Original URL http://www.freeserbia.net/Documents/2001/July.html

"Rice also discussed land reforms and an oil pipeline across Ukraine connecting the Black Sea to Europe with her Ukrainian counterpart."

U.S. Security Advisor Rice Hits Ukrainian on Journalist Deaths

KIEV, Jul 26, 2001 -- (dpa) Using some of the toughest language heard yet from an American official, U.S. National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice Wednesday told the Ukrainian government to find the killers of two independent journalists or forget about foreign investment, the Interfax news agency reported Wednesday.

Rice, U.S. President George W. Bush's in-house specialist on the former Soviet Union, was in Kiev on a two-day working visit. Her comments were in dramatic contrast to statements made by officials from the previous Democratic administration.

Speaking on the deaths of web site editor Georgy Gongadze and television editor Ihor Aleksander, Rice argued the prosecution of the case was not only of domestic Ukrainian interest.

"The (Ukrainian) government understands that the world is watching the course of events in Ukraine," Rice said.

Gongadze's headless body was found in a forest outside Kiev last November. Attackers wielding baseball bats killed Aleksandrov outside his Donetsk apartment last month.

Before their deaths, both Gongadze and Aleksandrov made public information critical of the government of President Leonid Kuchma. Police have arrested no suspects in either case.

The police investigation has been slow, contradictory, and often unprofessional. After Gongadze's death became public knowledge, Ukrainian law enforcers confiscated the body from a rural morgue and refused to admit they were holding it for more than a week.

Until the two investigations become transparent, the world "will have difficulty having a dialogue" with Ukraine, Rice said.

Kuchma has repeatedly denied complicity in the journalists' deaths and has said he wants a full investigation. Kuchma's opponents say he ordered the attacks.

The largest demonstrations since Ukrainian independence came out against Kuchma earlier this year over the scandal. Kuchma has experienced difficulty getting western heads of state to meet with him in public.

Kuchma sacked a Minister of the Interior and the head of the secret police over the slow investigation. He has said his government would spare no efforts to bring Gongadze's and Aleksandrov's murderers to justice.

Rice said the Kuchma administration should make sure upcoming parliament elections are open and fair.

Ukraine selects a new parliament next March. Some political observers are already predicting a drastic shift in the political landscape, with the elections installing a new house majority willing to throw Kuchma out of office.

Kuchma openly used regional and local governments to assist him in a 1999 re-election bid.

"We are concerned not only about the day of elections, but the election process," Rice said.

She hinted U.S. aid might be forthcoming to maintain stability in the former Soviet republic during the run-up to the election.

"The administration of the United States understands the importance of financing civil society in Ukraine, especially on the eve of elections," she said.

Rice also discussed land reforms and an oil pipeline across Ukraine connecting the Black Sea to Europe with her Ukrainian counterpart.