Vol. 535 No. 5
62 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the position in the Ukraine and in particular in relation to such Council of Europe commitments as freedoms of the press, expression and assembly. [12914/01]
On 26 April, by a margin of 263 to 89, the Ukrainian Parliament passed a vote of no-confidence in Prime Minister Viktor Yushchenko's Government. The Government will continue in a caretaker capacity for 60 days. The vote confirmed the Parliament's division into three political forces, communists, centre-right national democrats and an ideologically amorphous group which is aligned with President Leonid Kuchma. Prime Minister Yushchenko was brought down by a coalition in the Rada between the latter group and the communists, who were adamantly opposed to Yushchenko's pro-Western foreign policy. The pro-Kuchma forces had for several months been concerned at the erosion of their economic power by the Yushchenko Government's energy sector reforms. President Kuchma in the end registered his support for the retention of Mr. Yushchenko but his traditional supporters in Parliament decided to ignore him by voting to dismiss Yushchenko.
In relation to freedom of the press, Ukraine has seen an unusual level of public unrest since the disappearance at the end of last year of Mr. Georgi Gongadze, a journalist who was critical of President Kuchma and of corruption in Ukrainian society. What is believed to be Mr. Gongadze's headless body was found last November and secret tapes appear to implicate President Kuchma in his disappearance and death. President Kuchma denies any involvement but the whole episode has brought protest onto the streets of Kiev.
There is serious concern on the part of the Council of Europe at the situation in Ukraine, notably in regard to the honouring of its obligations and commitments which continue to be monitored by the Council's Parliamentary Assembly. On 26 April, the assembly adopted a recommendation again setting out its concerns and calling on Ukraine to fulfil its commitments, including the establishment of a framework in which the Ukrainian media can operate. The Ukrainian authorities have been called upon to stop any practices of pressure against the media and to achieve speedy and transparent investigation into cases of violence against journalists. The assembly has decided that, unless substantial progress is achieved by June, it will consider recommending that the suspension of Ukraine from the Council of Europe should be considered by the committee of ministers.
