UKRAINIAN GOVERNMENT’S FATE ON THE LINE AFTER ANOTHER SETBACK FOR REFORMERS.

The Ukrainian parliament has turned down leading economic reformer Volodymyr Lanovyy’s nomination as chairman of the State Property Fund, an institution that to a great extent controls the privatization process. A narrow majority in favor of the nomination fell well short of the margin required. Lanovyy, a former deputy prime minister and long-time reform advocate, currently serves as the Fund’s acting head on the basis of a decision by President Leonid Kuchma. The failure of the Lanovyy nomination adds to the recent resignation of reformist deputy prime minister Viktor Pynzenik in weakening the capacity of the cabinet of ministers to relaunch reforms. Both developments illustrate the power of leftist forces in parliament to frustrate the policies of Kuchma and his allies. Prime Minister Pavlo Lazarenko, caught between these conflicting forces, did manage to present a pro-reform legislative package in parliament on April 8 under heavy pressure from Kuchma. (See Monitor, April 9) Lazarenko’s political fate and that of his cabinet now hinges on the government restructuring plan, demanded by Kuchma and due to be presented tomorrow to the president. (UNIAN, April 9-10)

Confusion in Crimea.