Rail Travel news.

As prime minister of Ukraine, I don’t share the radical views of some that my country must choose between either further Russian or European integration, but not both (‘‘Whither Ukraine? Plotting Europe's eastern border,’’ by Viktor Yushchenko, Views, Sept. 10). Instead, a pragmatic approach toward Ukraine’s inevitable and desirable European integration is necessary.
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The question of EU membership must take into consideration Ukraine’s economic cooperation with Russia. Our neighbor is our friend, as well as our largest trading partner. I believe eventual EU membership will result in mutually beneficial cooperation and prosperity for Ukraine and all of our trading partners.
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Ukraine will also carefully observe how membership impacts the economies of the EU’s newest members before a final decision can realistically be reached. I am not questioning Ukraine’s European integra tion or criticizing the EU’s economic policies. I just want to remind all interested parties of potential problems and obstacles, as well as define realistic approaches to handling them.
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Economic reforms, democratic institutions and the rule of law are preparing Ukraine for future ascension to the EU. Free and fair presidential elections in October will help solidify democratic values in our country and help develop relationships with Ukraine’s neighbors. On Oct. 31, Ukrainians will have a chance to choose a pragmatic and effective way of integration allowing Ukraine to play a worthy role in the world.
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It is in Ukraine’s best interest to further integrate with Europe, when the time is right, so that her economic growth continues.
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Viktor Yanukovych, Kiev

Giving the status of the second official language to Russian in Ukraine can be of historic significance. This opinion was voiced by chairman of the State Duma committee for CIS affairs and relations with compatriots Andrei Kokoshin in the interview with RIA Novosti.

"The implementation of the proposal of Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich (along with Viktor Yushchenko, he is considered to be a main candidate for victory in the October 31 presidential elections) that the Russian language be a business language and the second official language on Ukraine's territory can be of historic significance," the deputy said.

"This will clearly stimulate creation of a common market that is so necessary to the peoples of Ukraine, Russia and other CIS countries, and industrial-economic and scientific-technical coordination of the two countries which was largely infringed to the damage to us and to the joy of our competitors in the previous years, after the breakup of the Soviet Union," Mr. Kokoshin stressed.

Besides that, as he said, implementation of the "Yanukovich doctrine" on the Russian language will help develop the two countries' humanitarian and cultural relations "in the context of full mutual respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine and Russia."

"All this will most favourably tell also on cooperation between Ukraine's regions and the entities of Russia in the spirit of the discussion of the question which we recently held with the participation of Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich and the heads of the administrations of the presidents of Russia and Ukraine," the deputy added.

Mournful ceremonies were held in Kyiv to commemorate the Babyn Yar victims who were executed by the German Nazi invaders in late September 1941.
A rally was held at the Babyn Yar memorial, in which visiting Israeli Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Ambassador to Ukraine Naomi Ben Ami, the Chief Rabbis of Ukraine and Russia, members of Ukrainian Jewish organizations participated.
According to Ilia Levitas, Chairman of the Babyn Yar Victims Fund, on September 29 Day of Mourning will be held in Kyiv City to commemorate the Babyn Yar victims.

Today on the 17-th of September the BCC "Dzherelo SPK" starts its amusing travel for railway enthusiasts of  Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Germany, France and Luxembourg. The organizers of the tour are Alexander Bless and Christian Amman (Switzerland). By comfortable tourists' train "Dzherelo" the group will go from the Chop station (the Ukrainian-Slovakian border) and further along the itinerary Chop-Lvov-Gaivoron-Chernovtsy-Ivano-Frankovsk-Rachov-Lvov-Chop.  The travelling will have continued by the 25-th of September. The especially interesting places of visit are the following ones:
- The narrowtruck railway Rudnitsa-Gaivoron with the steamengine of the type GR 280;
- Railpass through the branches of the railways of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire in the district of Chernovtsy (Bukovina);
- Excursions in Lvov and Chernovtsy;
-  Railpass through the peat narrowtruck railway in Smiga.
- The travel Ivano-Frankovsk-Rachov by the steamengine SU.
We wish good weather to all the participants, wonderful impressions and pleasure in this tour. Later we shall obligatory publish the report about this tour and new photos as well.

According to the poll conducted by the Democratic Initiatives forum and the Kiev international sociology institute from August 25 to September 3, about 49% of Ukrainians believe that Ukraine needs a union with Russia and Belarus.

Some 29% of Ukrainians came out for Ukraine's accession to the European Union and 15% failed to give a definite answer.

As far as Russian-Ukrainian relations are concerned, 68% of the polled believe they should be independent but friendly states. The opening of borders between Ukraine and Russia, cancellation of visas and customs borders and unification of the two countries are backed by 20% of the polled. 8% come out for the closing of the Russian-Ukrainian border and introduction of visas and customs borders.