Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=12/13/04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=U.S./UKRAINE POL (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-321132

BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST

DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

HEADLINE: US Denies Meddling in Ukrainian Campaign, Urges Investigation of Yushchenko Poisoning

INTRO: The United States Monday urged a complete and transparent investigation of the apparent poisoning of Ukrainian presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko. At the same time, it denied charges by his opponent, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, of U.S. meddling in the campaign. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.

TEXT: State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher says U.S. officials are "deeply disturbed" by the doctors' report that Mr. Yushchenko's illness resulted from poisoning by dioxin that may have been deliberately placed in his food.

The comments here, echoed by the White House, were the first U.S. reaction to the findings announced Saturday by doctors at an Austrian clinic where Mr. Yushchenko first went for treatment in September after falling ill while campaigning.

Mr. Yushchenko has been disfigured by facial lesions and suffered severe abdominal and back pain from mystery ailments that the candidate and his supporters allege stemmed from an attempt by the Ukrainian government to kill him with poison. Government officials have denied any connection to the episode.

Spokesman Boucher said the United States supports a complete and transparent investigation of the matter, and believes the Ukrainian people should be able to decide who their next president will be in a democratic manner, as scheduled December 26th.

At the same time, Mr. Boucher rejected renewed charges by the other candidate in the race, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, that the United States has meddled in the election by helping finance his rival.

Mr. Boucher said the charges about U.S. democracy-building projects have been made before, and that the U.S. aid to non-governmental organizations in Ukraine supports no particular party or candidate:

///Boucher actuality///

"These charges keep coming up. I think he's even throwing numbers about. But we will make our position clear once again: that we do not have a favorite candidate in the campaign. Our interest is in seeing democracy prevail. As the Secretary (of State) said last week in Brussels, our sole point of view has been let the people decide."

///end act///

Mr. Boucher said U.S.-funded political party training in Ukraine, for example, has been open to all parties on an equal basis and that pro-government as well as opposition politicians have taken part in the programs.

The United States has spent more than 60-million dollars over the last two years to promote democratic reforms in Ukraine, much of it directed through groups affiliated with the two main U.S. political parties.

The European Union, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and other individual countries have similar programs. (Signed)

NEB/DAG/RH/AWP