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Happy 60th birthday, Mr. President; How U.s. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to spend her day in Kyiv on July 2; IMF mission still talking about loans.

 

President Viktor Yanukovych

Happy 60th birthday, Mr. President

President Viktor Yanukovych, who turns 60 on July 9, reportedly plans to take a vacation and celebrate his birthday in Crimea. Russian officials and businessmen are expected to attend his jubilee en masse, according to the Kyiv-based Segodnya daily newspaper, which on June 30 quoted a Russian diplomat in Kyiv as saying at least seven planes had been chartered to fly in well-wishers. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is expected to be among the attendees.

Presidential Administration chief Serhiy Lyovochkin said on June 15 that Yanukovych is expected to return to Kyiv from vacation in late July, then take another break in early August.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton takes the podium in the State Department on June 14 in Washington, D.C. (AP)

How U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to spend her day in Kyiv on July 2

  • Talks with Foreign Minister Kostyantyn Hryshchenko and the Open Strategic Partnership Commission.
  • Meeting with President Viktor Yanukovych.
  • Press conference.
  • Meeting with ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.
  • Meeting with leaders of civil society.
  • Town hall meeting at Kyiv Polytechnic Institute.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is scheduled to visit Poland, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia next week to discuss bilateral relations and promote efforts to resolve regional conflicts and strengthen regional peace and stability.

Clinton’s five-day schedule:

  • July 2 Kyiv, meetings with government officials, opposition leader.
  • July 3 Krakow, Poland. Meetings with Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski. Attending the 10th anniversary of the Community of Democracy.
  • July 4 Visits to capitals of Azerbaijan and Armenia.
  • July 5 Visit to Tbilisi, Georgia for meetings with president, officials.

Deputy Prime Minister Sergiy Tigipko (L)

IMF mission still talking about loans

International Montery Fund representatives are set to wind up consultations in Kyiv with the government about negotiating a new loan next week. Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and Deputy Prime Minister Sergiy Tigipko have for months said agreement with the international lender is imminent.

The government is asking for an economic assistance package in the $12-$19 billion range. Numerous media quoted unnamed central bank officials on June 30 as saying the fate of the government’s recapitalization plan for government-controlled Nadra Bank depended on the outcome of IMF talks.

 

A scene from the April 27 session of parliament, when the controversial agreement was ratified that extended the presence of Russia‘s Black Sea Fleet in Crimea until at least 2042. Members of the opposition set off smoke bombs in the session hall and bombarded Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn with eggs. (Oleksiy Boyko)

Will parliament go out with a bang or wimper?

Ukraine’s parliament is scheduled to convene July 6-9 before breaking for summer recess. Most people are watching to see whether lawmakers adopt a new tax code. Opposition deputies and civil society groups have for weeks criticized the draft tax legislation, as well as a new law restricting peaceful rallies.

Ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s faction in parliament blocked the rostrum twice during sessions last week, and more fireworks could be in store if the ruling Party of Regions votes on controversial measures.