Yushchenko Signals New Direction for Ukraine

Published: 24 January 2005 y., Monday
Viktor Yushchenko was sworn in as the third president of post-Soviet Ukraine Sunday, capping months of political turmoil that saw the nation turn away from traditional Russian influence toward the West. The wait is over for Viktor Yushchenko. After enduring weeks of roller-coaster like chaos in his country, a life-threatening poisoning attack, election fraud and an appeal before the country’s Supreme Court, the 50-year-old hero of the “orange revolution” finally saw his ambitions realized on Sunday when he was sworn in as Ukraine’s president. With his hand on the constitution and the Bible, Yushchenko read aloud the oath of office during a parliament ceremony attended by hundreds of international guests, including outgoing US Secretary of State Colin Powell, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and presidents of several former Soviet satellite states. Yushchenko, who takes over after a decade of authoritarian-leaning rule by Leonid Kuchma, has vowed to eradicate corruption and build a country with a transparent economy and institutions. He aims to move his country closer to mainstream Europe and cooperate more with the European Union. Ukraine borders the 25-nation bloc, but in the past has turned more towards Moscow than Brussels.
Šaltinis: dw-world.de
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.

Facebook Comments

New comment


Captcha

Associated articles

The most popular articles

The President: New NATO strategic concept should strengthen the Alliance and ensure specific security guarantees

The President of the Republic of Lithuania, Dalia Grybauskaitė, met with the Commander of the US European Command and NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Admiral James G. Stavridis. more »

Lithuania and Estonia see energy independence of Baltic States as priority

The President of the Republic of Lithuania, Dalia Grybauskaitė, met with the Prime Minister of Estonia, Andrus Ansip, who is on a visit to Lithuania. more »

A year in presidency: changes in Lithuania turning into reality

July 12 marks one year since President Dalia Grybauskaitė took office. What has changed in Lithuania over that time? more »

Political Directors from EU members had consutations in Belgium

On 8-9 July in Genval, Belgium, Political Director of Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Eitvydas Bajarūnas took part in the consultations of political directors from foreign ministries of 27 European Union member states. more »

Lithuania's Foreign Minister bids farewell to the outgoing Ambassador of Ukraine

On 9 July, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis received the outgoing Ambassador of Ukraine Ihor Prokopchuk. more »

Lithuania and Israel discuss possibilities to advance bilateral relations

On 7 July in Vilnius, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis and Israel’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman discussed bilateral political, economic and cultural cooperation, as well as possibilities to intensify economic, trade and tourist exchanges. more »

U.S. President commends Lithuania for its leadership of the Community of Democracies

In the statement by U.S. President Barack Obama on the 10th Anniversary of the Community of Democracies that was released on 3 July, the President commended Lithuania for its Presidency of the Community and efforts to focus on the pressing challenges of today. more »

The President presented state awards to Lithuanian and foreign nationals

"You offer us yet another opportunity to put ourselves and our civic mind to the test of time. Your example makes us raise our standards higher and higher," President of the Republic of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė said at the ceremony of presenting state awards. more »

Dalia Grybauskaitė congratulated President-elect of Poland

President Dalia Grybauskaitė offered personal congratulations by phone to President-elect Bronisław Komorowski on his victory in Poland's presidential elections. more »

Foreign states and international organizations extend condolences to Lithuania on the passing of President Algirdas Mykolas Brazauskas

Foreign states and international organizations extend condolences to Lithuania on the passing of President Algirdas Mykolas Brazauskas more »