Monday, Jan 24, 2005
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By Vladimir Radyuhin
MOSCOW, JAN. 23. Viktor Yushchenko, who was sworn in as Ukraine's third President today, has reiterated his pro-Western policy. The 50-year-old former Prime Minister and central banker read the oath of office with his right hand placed on the Constitution and the Bible during a Parliament ceremony attended by hundreds of guests, including the former United States Secretary of State, Colin Powell, the NATO Secretary-General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, and the Presidents of seven neighbouring countries. Russia was represented by the upper House Speaker, Sergei Mironov. After the inauguration in Parliament, Mr. Yushchenko addressed a half-a-million crowd in Kiev's central Independence Square, the epicentre of the month-long "orange" protests against his loss in a disputed run-off against the former Prime Minister, Viktor Yanukovich. The Supreme Court eventually overturned the run-off results and ordered a re-vote that was won by Mr. Yushchenko. Speaking at Independence Square, Mr. Yushchenko vowed to take Ukraine into the European Union. "Our place is in the European Union," he said to the cheering crowds. "My goal is to take Ukraine into a united Europe... We belong to the same civilisation." The Polish President, Aleksander Kwasniewski, who attended the inauguration, promised to help Ukraine join the E.U. and NATO at the earliest. For his part, Mr. Powell conveyed to Mr. Yushchenko an invitation from the U.S. President, George W. Bush, to visit the U.S. However, Mr. Yushchenko will make his first visit to Russia. On Monday, he will go to Moscow to meet the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, in an effort to mend relations clouded by Ukraine's controversial election. Russia supported Mr. Yanukovich, while the West threw its weight behind Mr. Yushchenko. Both sides accused each other of meddling in Ukraine's affairs. Despite his Western leanings, Mr. Yushchenko needs good relations with Russia from where Ukraine draws its oil and gas and which can help him heal a rift between Ukraine's pro-Russia east and pro-Europe west. After Moscow, he will embark on a multi-day tour of the West, including an appearance at the European Parliament.
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