Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=11.26.04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-320711

TITLE= RUSSIA / UKRAINE CONCERN

BYLINE=BILL GASPERINI

DATELINE=MOSCOW

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

HEADLINE: Russia Expresses Concern About Western Involvement in Ukraine Dispute

INTRO: Russia has expressed concern about what it says are Western attempts to influence the situation in Ukraine. Russia and the West are on opposite sides in the ongoing crisis over last Sunday's disputed presidential run-off election. Bill Gasperini has more from Moscow.

TEXT: All week Russia has said Western nations are taking actions which have inflamed the tense situation in Ukraine in the wake of the disputed election.

President Vladimir Putin even accused the European Union of encouraging supporters of opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko to take to the streets in mass demonstrations, which Russia terms "anti-democratic".

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has taken it a step further, saying that certain countries want to "move things beyond legal norms" and that they want to push the Ukraine "to be more with the West."

/// LAVROV ACT, IN RUSSIAN, EST AND FADE ///

"He says that in fact Ukraine is situated both near Russia and the West, and such a policy means someone is trying to draw a new border line right through Europe."

The United States, the European Union and other foreign nations say they cannot accept the official result showing that Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych won the election.

They say it is essential to investigate numerous allegations of fraud committed on election day and during the vote count. Some nations, including the United States, have warned punitive action might be taken if this isn't done.

On the other hand Russia warmly congratulated Mr. Yanukovych on what Mr. Putin called his "decisive victory" and rejects the need for any review of the ballots.

Despite this, some kind of investigation is likely after Ukraine's Supreme Court blocked publication of the results in order to consider an appeal from Mr. Yushchenko next week.

The Georgia parliament joined the West this week, throwing its support behind Mr. Yushchenko by unanimously condemning the ballot rigging in Ukraine.

Many analysts say the split between Russia and Western nations over Ukraine is the deepest since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

So far only China and the authoritarian regimes in the former Soviet republics of Uzbekistan and Belarus have sided with Russia. (Signed)

NEB/BG/MEM/FC