Demkowych Post

Ukraine News: IMF Approves Last-Minute $2bn Transfer from Central Bank Reserves

Christine Demkowych — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:42:39 +0000

Last-Minute Loan Transfer Approved from IMF-Backed Central Bank Reserves

The International Monetary Fund originally turned down recession-battered Ukraine’s plea for a $2bn emergency loan, but late in December it allowed Kyiv to stay afloat by approving a $2bn transfer to government accounts from IMF-backed central bank reserves to cover external liabilities including Russian gas bills.

Just prior to the last-minute decision, officials said the financially stretched government could employ other options that might allow it to get through the coming months, to help pay gas import bills to Russia’s Gazprom as well as citizens’ pensions and wages. The plan, which proved viable, included IMF authorization for the release of $2bn (€1.4bn, £1.25bn) in funds from Kyiv’s central bank reserves to the government account.

Ukraine News: Soccer Fans Still Reeling From Recent Loss to Greece

Christine Demkowych — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:33:55 +0000

Diehard Soccer Fans Still Reeling from Recent Loss to Greece
Optimists Look Forward to Hosting European Championship Games in Ukraine in 2012

Reported by Oleksandr Proshuta

The soon-to-be released film Invictus, which tells the story about Nelson Mandela’s release from prison and his attempts to use the 1995 Rugby World Cup to bring South Africans together, in many respects illustrates the emotional significance that Ukrainians attached to their recent qualifying soccer match against Greece. But unlike the South Africans who won the tournament against the favored New Zealand team 15-12 , the Ukrainian team suffered a devastating blow. While Ukraine is not facing the same issues depicted in the film for South Africa, the point here is that winning a soccer match can do wonders for national unity. When there’s a loss the deep divide only increases.

Ukraine’s economy right now is in dire straits and few people are feeling hopeful the next leader of Ukraine, scheduled to be elected in January of 2010, will turn things around any time soon. The atmosphere in the country is at a low point and this game was expected to lift the country’s spirits. Ukraine should have won, many believe. But alas the Greeks stole the match, 1-0.

For Ukrainians the loss was like a bitter pill that’s hard to swallow. So it’s not surprising that soccer fans are still reeling. Already names are being thrown about to find a replacement for the current team coach, at whom all blaming fingers are being pointed. As for the older players on the team, the game symbolized a last chance for them to ease into retirement at the zenith of their careers. Instead they will go out with their heads down.

Optimists,however, are looking ahead to 2012 when the country will have the prestigious honor to host the European Championship games. Although Ukraine lost the qualifying match, the rules are such that host countries get to play in the games. Preparations for the games are fully underway. Officials are quite busy making sure the stadium in Kyiv is on schedule with its re-construction efforts. A new stadium was recently completed in Kharkiv after the Dnipropetrovsk stadium was disqualified for not meeting game standards. Preparations in Lviv are reportedly lagging but Donetsk already boasts a new facility.

As any winning athlete knows, you can only lick the wounds of defeat so long before getting back into the ring with a fighting spirit. The players did their best and it’s time for Ukrainians to let go of their resentment and support the team as it prepares for a future victory.

Ukraine News: The West Should Not Lose Patience with Ukraine

Christine Demkowych — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:38:53 +0000

The Financial Times
www.ft.com

The West Should Not Lose Patience with Ukraine

Published: November 23 2009

By Oleh Rybachuk and Taras Chornovil

In a November 23, 2009 article in the Financial Times by Oleh Rybachuk and Taras Chornovil, the authors urge the West not to give up on Ukraine and say that a more responsible citizenry will help to influence and control the actions of the next Ukrainian leader and the political elite. Rybachuk and Chornovil do not dispute the frustration that European countries and the U.S. have with Ukrainian leaders, but they say the country as a whole has progressed in a positive direction. They warn that any rejection of Ukraine at this very vulnerable time for the country would be a devastating blow. The authors point out several achievements since the Orange Revolution. They say there is no longer a monopoly on politics, business or mass media. Although Ukrainians today rely on having freedom of speech, the authors say this precious right must be protected by members of Ukraine’s fragile civil society. Ukraine has also achieved its long-awaited accession to the World Trade Organization and there is visible progress in the European integration process. But the authors do stress the importance of providing Ukraine with action steps and supervision for EU membership and say that building a transparent energy security system that involves Ukraine, Russia and Europe should be a priority.
Oleh Rybachuk was the chief of staff to President Victor Yushchenko in 2005. Taras Chornovil was the chief of Victor Yanukovych’s presidential campaign in 2004

Ukraine News: A Democracy at Risk

Christine Demkowych — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:04:06 +0000

The Wall Street Journal

http://online.wsj.com

Opinion Europe

November 23, 2009

Ukraine: A Democracy at Risk

By MYROSLAVA GONGADZE

In a November 23, 2009 Wall Street Journal opinion piece by Myroslava Gongadze, the author argues that Ukrainians wishing for strong-armed rule may outnumber those hoping to preserve their imperfect democracy.

With the presidential elections scheduled to take place in January 2010, Gondadze urges the West to pay close attention to current trends.

The author says the pledge of justice, promised to those who brought forth the Orange Revolution, was never honored. Gongadze cites a 2009 Transparency International report that lists Ukraine’s corruption level as being on par with Russia, Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe and states there have been no signs of improvement since 2004.

Gongadze says the top contenders in the 2010 Ukrainian election are vowing to bring back Putin-style control. The author advises the EU and other democratic nations to develop a constructive and principled policy for Ukraine and points out that calls from the West for free and fair elections will not sway Ukrainian authorities without a genuine commitment to hold them to their word. Gongadze says that if the next leaders of Ukraine maintain their authoritarian past, the only option for the West will be to focus on the growing civil society and to support new emerging leaders.

Gongadze is a Ukrainian journalist and human rights activist, and the widow of slain Ukrainian journalist Georgy Gongadze.

Ukraine News: Election Campaign Battles Threaten Ukraine’s Economy

Christine Demkowych — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:05:14 +0000

Financial Times

www.ft.com

Election fever threatens feeble Ukraine recovery

By Roman Olearchyk in Kyiv
Published: November 17 2009

According to a November 17, 2009 article by Roman Olearchyk in the Financial Times, there are fragile signs that Ukraine’s economy may be coming out of its deep recession, despite a severe drop in its gross domestic product in the third quarter.

Industrial production was 5 percent higher in October than September. Although the 15 percent fall in annualized GDP reported this week is lower than earlier figures of 20.3 per cent and 17.8 per cent in the first and second quarters, Ukraine still faces a daunting situation.

With two months to go before presidential elections, the International Monetary Fund has stopped a bailout amid stalled reform. There are fears Ukraine could fall deeper into financial trouble as politicians seek to win votes with spending promises. Economists say recent social expenditure increases could produce another year of double-digit inflation in 2010.

The article said the economy plummeted last fall after global demand for Ukraine’s main export, steel, crashed, weakening foreign earnings, causing a 40 percent drop in the currency and hurling the banking industry – in which European banks hold a 40 percent market share – into a state of complete inactivity.

Ukraine News: Many Ukrainians Resort to Garlic and Lemons to Fight Flu Epidemic

Christine Demkowych — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:28:55 +0000

Fragile Care Worsened Swine Flu In Ukraine

By ELLEN BARRY

14 November 2009

Late Edition – Final

According to a November 14, 2009 New York Times article by Ellen Barry, the World Health Organization reported on Friday that the total number of swine flu illnesses and deaths in Ukraine so far — 265 fatalities throughout the country, with 87 in the Lviv region — were statistically on par with those in other countries.

The article said that serious flu cases increased because the sick avoided hospitalization until their illness was dangerously advanced, reserves of Tamiflu were locked in centralized locations and the supply of ventilators fell short.

Doctors are reportedly blaming the news media and politicians for spreading fear and misinformation. The mayors of Ternopyl and Lviv, which reported their first deaths from atypical pneumonia on Oct. 12 and 19, said the federal epidemiological service would not take necessary measures without laboratory results confirming the presense of H1N1. This step apparently delayed a official response for treatment by close to two weeks.

The article said Ukrainians rely heavily on home remedies, and that is what they did for the third and fourth weeks of October, buying large quantities of garlic and lemons and waiting so long to go to a hospital that by the time they did, many were beyond treatment.

Fulbright Research Video Presentation: A Study of Student and Faculty Attitudes Toward the Bologna Process of Education in Ukraine

Christine Demkowych — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:01:31 +0000

Fulbright Research: 10-minute video presentation

Copyright 2009 Christine Demkowych All Rights Reserved

Ukraine News: Social Spending Law Major Stumbling Block to IMF Cooperation

Christine Demkowych — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:51:25 +0000

The Wall Street Journal

http://online.wsj.com/home-page

NOVEMBER 11, 2009

Ukraine’s Leaders Fail to Overcome Funding Impasse
By JAMES MARSON

According to a November 11, 2009 Wall Street Journal article by James Marson, Ukrainian leaders were unable to break the deadlock that may cut off funding from the International Monetary Fund.

Despite the impasse, Ukrainian government officials still believe a compromise can be reached on the social spending increase that was signed into law by President Viktor Yuschenko, the major concern that may derail continued IMF funding. Yuschenko is showing no signs of changing his position and it looks increasingly unlikely that the scheduled $3.8 billion IMF installment will be disbursed.

Many analysts say Yuschenko is not cooperating because he is hoping to hurt Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s chances in the January election. The article said that opposition leader Viktor Yanukhovych, whose party was the primary supporter of the bill increasing social spending, is leading the presidential race, polling at 28%, according to October stats released by the Razumkov Center in Kyiv. Tymoshenko received 20% support, while Yushchenko came in at only 5% .

Ukraine News: Ukrainian Famine Commemorated Nov. 28 in Wash. DC

Christine Demkowych — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:22:47 +0000

RSVP: email: cultinform@ukremb.com

Interactive Journalism: McCormick Foundation Funds New Grants! For 8 Women-Led News Startups: [$200,000 budget distributed to 4 in 2010 and 4 in 2011]

Christine Demkowych — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:53:03 +0000

J-FLASH
J-Lab: The Institute for Interactive Journalism
www.J-Lab.org November 10, 2009

New J-Lab Research: New Entrepreneurs: New Perspectives on News
New forms of journalism are being created around the country where online local news sites have launched to report on their communities. The journalism is characterized by a deliberate shift in the definition of objectivity, a drive for community conversation and discussion, and broader definitions of “news” that seek to connect readers to a sense of the place where they live.

See the press release.
Read the report.

Launch your own news site: Newspaper in a Box
New from Mark Briggs, author of Journalism 2.0. An e-learning module with everything you need to create an independent news site from scratch – without contracting out for Web design, coding or consulting. Anyone has the ability to make their site interactive and engaging. Mark has discovered stuff we’ve never seen before.

More J-Lab Learning Modules: Starting an independent news site? Check these out:

Interviewing: A Practical Guide
A Guide to Open Government
Twitter Tips

New Grants! For 8 women-led news startups
J-Lab has received a $200,000 grant from the McCormick Foundation to fund eight women-led news startups, four in 2010; four in 2011. Deadline: April 12, 2010.

Submit your application.
See press release.

——————————————————————————–
J-Lab: The Institute for Interactive Journalism http://www.j-lab.org/
American University School of Communication
3201 New Mexico Ave. NW, Ste. 330, Washington, DC 20016
202-885-8100 or e-mail: news@j-lab.org