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25-12-2004 01:37 Maidan-INFORM
Yanukovych Blames West for Trying to Put Its Agent in Power

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Viktor Yanukovych made this statement at a rally in Kyiv for which he was an hour and half late. According to him, the rally's attendees were people who increase Ukraine's wealth as a result of their labor.

Yanukovych said, "Our country has confidently entered world markets and this does not suit our rivals. They were aware of that life is difficult for us, but they also saw I large competitor and so they have invested a lot of money in installing their agent."

He thanked his voters for supporting him and declared, “Everyone here in this square loves Ukraine, loves his country. We won’t let anyone live according to the assignment of some prompter, no matter how good or bad a landlord he is. We will be the landlords of this country.”

In his opinion, everything that has happened since November 21 has been “modeled by the leaders of the orange opposition.” Yanukovych accused his opponents of passing the anti-constitutional election law, which violates the rights of senior citizens. He has also promised to win on December 26.

During his speech, his moderator was trying to make people chant “Yanukovych – President,” to which the presidential candidate waved his hands. However, the chanting for “Yanukovych” was from occasionally suppressed by “Yushchenko!” chants from the opposition supporters who were also present on Slava Square.

In the middle of his speech, Yanukovych suddenly pointed to a bucket that has been placed on the stage and said, “Do you see these flowers? They are for you, our dear ladies!”, after which he lifted the bucket up and then put it back down. Only at the end of his speech did he toss the flowers to the crowd.

MPs Shufrych, Khomutin, Gorbal, Samofalov, Rakhansky, as well as the chief of Yanukovych’s staff, Taras Chornovil, also took part in the meeting.

Mr. Chornovil said, “We have already elected our president, today we are here to prevent those who wanted to divide our country from doing so. We must now support our choice because there are some values superior to those of the presidential chair that others are so consumed with. Those values are the well-being of our people and the wealth of our country. And there is a person who is ready to struggle for an indivisible and intact Ukraine.”

He added, “I couldn’t help but be on Yanukovych’s side because his ideals are mine as well. Nowadays, some people in the streets of Kyiv and other cities and towns wear blue arm bands, some wear the orange ones, but still we are the same people. The majority simply likes to live in a country which possesses dignity and respects its citizens.”

The rally was attended by Father Fedor, of the Kyiv Church, who declared, “The Orthodox Church blesses the intact Ukraine and I’m calling on all to vote for Viktor Yanukovych.”

Olympic champion Klochkova also addressed the gathering. She said, “I’m speaking at a rally for the first time in my life. I have no talent for speeches, but I’m supporting Viktor Yanukovych, who is supporting Ukrainian sportsmen.”

Yanukovych’s representative at the Central Election Commission, MP Nestor Shufrych declared, “Together with the people on this square, there are not 15 million but 50 million. We are Ukraine and we want unity. We saw how Yanukovych has taken care of us for two years, we speak the language we want, and we work the way we want.”

At the end of his speech, Mr. Yanukovych greeted his audience on the occasion of the New Year and asked everybody to drink to the health of their parents, teachers and for the future of their children. He wished each family peace and stability, and expressed hope that 2005 will be the year of a great, unified Ukraine.

The rally and concert lasted for three hours and was broadcast live by the Ukraina TV & Radio Corporation.

Source: Ukrayinska Pravda

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