News As Of September 25th, 26th, 27th 2006

[stepanstas]

Ok. I did not notice any changes in the forum maintence, but i will make changes here.

1. I will add emotions next to article title
2. Source of article will now be the title of article
3. I will ask questions in the end, and expect you to reply

I also appoligize for the shortage of articles, but i took out the most important events.


US companies to produce biofuel in Ukraine

Viktor Yanukovych met with representatives of USA companies discusses prospects of biofuel production in Ukraine, press office of Cabinet of Ministers reported.

During the meeting American businessmen stated their readiness to invest into agrarian sector of Ukraine. Particularly, they intend to build here two plants producing agricultural machinery and biofuel.

In his turn, Viktor Yanukovych noted that the government takes measures to improve investment climate in Ukraine. The Head of the government also stated that Ukraine is interested in manufacture of ecologically clean biofuel as it has all necessary plant resources. Biofuel production will give the opportunity not only to satisfy the needs of Ukraine▓s economy in light oil products but to export it to other countries, the Prime Minister stressed.

Ukraine assisted by the US destructed 1,000 MANPADS

According to the U.S. Department of State press release out on Septemebr 21, the controlled destruction of 1000 Ukrainian man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) was completed on September 20 in northeast Ukraine, outside the city of Shostka. These weapons, deemed by Ukraine to be excess to its defense needs, are but the first installment in a 12-year weapons and munitions destruction project being undertaken by Ukraine and NATO in a NATO-Partnership for Peace Trust Fund initiative - - the largest such multilateral destruction project of its kind.

The United States is the lead sponsor of the first three-year phase of this project to which it already has contributed over $3.64 million. 12 other countries and the European Union have pledged over Ђ5.6 million (approximately $7.2 million). Ukraine is providing most of the operational funding and in-kind support. A total of approximately $27 million will be required from donors to complete the project. Additional contributions, including those from non-NATO members, will be welcomed.

In addition to the MANPADS that were destroyed, 15,000 tons of stockpiled excess and unstable munitions, including ammunition for automatic weapons, artillery shells, and mortar rounds, and 400,000 small arms and light weapons, are scheduled to be destroyed during the first phase. By the end of the twelve-year project, a total of 1.5 million small arms and light weapons, and 133,000 tons of munitions will have been safely destroyed.

The impetus for this extraordinary project is twofold. First, Ukraine has suffered several major explosions of unstable ordnance in some of its munitions depots. Controlled destruction of the remaining dangerous ordnance will reduce the public safety threat and health risk to Ukrainians who live near such depots. Second, the destruction of weapons and munitions that are no longer needed by Ukraine to defend itself will ensure that they are never obtained by illicit arms traffickers, criminals, or terrorists.

Barroso calls for pause in EU expansion after Bulgaria, Romania's accession

The EU should not admit new members after Bulgaria and Romania before carrying out pending institutional reforms, European Commission (EC) President Jose Manuel Barroso said on Monday (25 September).

His statement came a day before the EC released its latest report on the two Balkan countries, recommending they be allowed to join the EU on 1 January 2007.

"It would be unwise to bring in other member states apart from Romania and Bulgaria," Barroso said at a news conference in Brussels following a meeting with French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin. "We are not in a position to further integrate Europe without further institutional reform. There are some limits to our absorption capacity."

Please see link for full article

Low wages primary cause of human trafficking in Ukraine: NGO

Turning from the past to present-day problems: Low wages are one of the primary causes of trafficking of Ukrainians abroad.
That finding was presented by the Family and youth ministry and the La Strada Ukraine non-governmental organization. La Strada president Kateryna Levchenko said in the early 1990s, lack of jobs was the primary reason Ukrainians were so willing to leave the country. Today, the jobs are in place but wages are too low, she said. Thus far this year, authorities claim to have thwarted nearly 300 attempts at trafficking of Ukrainians abroad, primarily women.

USA will continue supporting Ukraine's drive for joining NATO, no matter how long the process may last, NSC official says

As Mr Wilson stressed, the process of Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration will be determined by the nation's resolvedness and willingness to become a NATO member. Damon Wilson particularly underscored the significance of the Ukrainian people's support for Ukraine's accedence to NATO. In this connection he pointed to some problems Ukraine will have to resolve, including the need for stepping up informational and educational work toward making Ukrainian citizens better informed about NATO.

European Commission advises Ukraine to create 90-day reserve of oil

The European Commission recommends Ukraine to create a minimal or strategic 90-day reserve of oil and an independent state agency for managing the reserve, Faouzi Bensarsa, Counsellor for Energy, External Relations DG, European Commission, said, Cabinet's press office reported.

According to him, the issue was vetted at a meeting with Ukrainian officials. "We have discussed a program of creating the reserve of oil, which would be enough for 90 days, which is compliant with EU demands," the European Commission representative said.

As he believes, the independent state agency to manage the reserve should be established under the Fuel and Energy Ministry. The European Commission countries run several models of oil stock administration. For six months the European Commission has been studied these models for determining the most appropriate one for Ukraine, Mr Bensarsa summed up.

My Questions To You

1. What Is The Current Wage?
2. What Do You Think Is Enought?
3. How much do you think the USA will do to contribute to Ukraine joining NATO?
4. How long do you think it will take to back up 90-day worth of oil?
5. Even thought the article says destructing MANPADS will help Ukraine (and it probably will) do you think the USA did this for themselves more?
6. How do you feel about the biofuel expantion in Ukraine?
7. Do you think Ukrainians will see the money being put to use?
8. How much does the EU pause have affect on Ukraine?