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Saturday, Nov 27, 2004

International

International

European leaders arrive in Ukraine for mediation

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW, NOV. 26. As the stalemate continued in Ukraine's presidential election crisis for the fifth day on Friday, European mediators were trying to bring the opponents together for talks in an effort to end the stand-off.

The European Union foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, the Polish President, Aleksander Kwasniewski, and the Lithuanian President, Valdas Adamkus, arrived in Kiev today to help negotiate a settlement.

After meeting Ukraine's outgoing President, Leonid Kuchma, they said they would later hold round-table talks with the Prime Minister, Viktor Yanukovich, who was declared winner in Sunday's presidential poll, and the Opposition candidate, Viktor Yushchenko, who claimed he was robbed of victory.

The Russian Parliament Speaker, Boris Gryzlov, will also take part in the talks.

Russian warning

Russia, which supported Mr. Yanukovich in the election, today warned the West against pulling Ukraine into its orbit.

"We are alarmed by attempts by certain Governments to steer the situation in Ukraine away from a legal path," Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, said today.

"Especially when certain European capitals are declaring that they do not recognise the elections and that Ukraine has to be with the West."

The capital Kiev is still flooded by thousands of supporters of the two candidates.

Pro-Yushchenko demonstrators today blockaded Government buildings and barred officials from entering them.

However, the situation in the capital remains calm, with police not interfering and no clashes reported between the two rival camps.

Parliament to meet

The Ukrainian Parliament will meet on Saturday to discuss the crisis. On Monday, Ukraine's Supreme Court will hear a complaint by Mr. Yushchenko against the Central Election Commission's decision on Wednesday to declare Mr. Yanukovich the winner.

Meanwhile, the continuing stand-off is threatening to split Ukraine.

Mr. Yushchenko has set up a "Committee for National Salvation" and has issued a half dozen "decrees" on its behalf calling on people to "rise in defence of the Constitution" and ordering the creation of "self-defence" forces.

Threat to unity

A number of cities in the western region of the country have pledged loyalty to Mr. Yushchenko and refused to take orders from the Government. By contrast, municipal councils in the pro-Russian south-east region have threatened to declare "autonomy" from Kiev if the Opposition leader wins over in the capital.

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