Ukraine's accession to NATO not on agenda -- Yanukovich.

KIEV, February 13 (Itar-Tass) -- Ukraine's accession to NATO is not on
the current agenda, presidential candidate Viktor Yanukovich said.
"The question of Ukraine's accession to NATO is not on the agenda now.
We have already answered this question. Ukraine is interested to develop
the collective European security system project," Yanukovich, who is also
the leader of the opposition Party of Regions, told Russia's Channel One
on Friday.

"We are ready to participate in it and support [Russian] President
Dmitry Medvedev's initiative, which by the way has been supported by
French President Nicolas Sarkozy. And we are ready to join in," Yanukovich
said.

.ROC president saddened by Georgian athlete's death in Vancouver.

VANCOUVER, February 13 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian Olympic Committee
President Leonid Tyagachev expressed condolences on the tragic death of
Georgian tobagganist Nodar Kumaritashvili, who died from a fatal injury
received during a training ride before the Olympic Games in Vancouver.
"On behalf of the big Russian Olympic family I express condolences to
your delegation and all Georgian sport lovers in connection with the
tragic death of the young athlete," Tyagachev said in a telegram addressed
to the Georgian sport delegation in Vancouver.
The athlete lost control of the toboggan, ran out of the track and
crashed into a metal column, receiving fatal injuries. Despite timely
medical aid, he died in hospital.
According to preliminary data, the toboggan was running at a speed of
over 145 kilometres per hour at the time of the accident. Training rides
have been suspended for an indefinite period of time.

.Timoshenko to make statement after official announcement of election
results.

KIEV, February 13 (Itar-Tass) -- Ukrainian Prime Minister and
presidential candidate Yulia Timoshenko will make a public statement after
the results of the presidential election have been officially announced,
her election headquarters chief, First Vice Prime Minister Alexander
Turchinov said.
"I am convinced that as soon as the Central Election Commission
announces the official results, Yulia Vladimirovna [Timoshenko] will
undoubtedly make a statement and declare her position," Turchinov told the
Inter television channel on Friday evening.
He said Timoshenko's election headquarters were working to "protect
democracy in Ukraine".
Turchinov believes that the issue of falsifications during the
election should worry not only their election headquarters or their
political force. "This issue should worry all citizens of our country
because when we receive no answers to the questions we raise, the next
election will be the worst parody of what happened in the first and second
rounds of the presidential election in 2004," Turchinov said, adding that
the Timoshenko election headquarters would contest the results of the
February 7 runoff in court.
According to preliminary CEC data, the leader of the Party of Regions,
Viktor Yanukovich, emerged the winner with 48.95 percent of the votes.
Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko lost, with 45.47 percent.
The process of summarizing the results of the presidential election
runoff is to be completed within ten days, by February 17.
CEC chief Vladimir Shapoval earlier said the CEC might declare the
official election returns on February 15.

.Peacekeeping tasks require UN interaction with rgn organisations --
envoy.

UNITED NATIONS, February 13 (Itar-Tass) -- The magnitude of
contemporary peacekeeping tasks requires effective interaction between the
United Nations and regional organisations, Russian Permanent
Representative to the U.N. Vitaly Churkin said.
"Experience shows that a more active use of the possibilities of
regional organisations and sub-regional mechanisms is justified if they
operate in accordance with the principles and goals of the U.N. Charter,"
he said on Friday at a U.N. Security Council meeting in peacekeeping
operations.
He called for using the peacekeeping potential of the Collective
Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO). "The upcoming adoption of the U.N.
U.N. General Assembly resolution, initiated by Russia and other CSTO
member states, on cooperation between this organisation and the U.N. will
give it a boost," Churkin said.
U.N. peacekeeping activities are needed now as never before, and
demand for peacekeepers will only grow, he said.
According to the diplomat, in addition to military-political
stabilisation in conflict zones, "peacekeepers also assist with security
reform, disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration, creation of
sustainable government institutions, and resolution of comprehensive tasks
of state development".
"Further improvement of U.N. peacekeeping activities is on the agenda.
Its resolution requires collective efforts and productive interaction
between the Security Council, the U.N. General Assembly and Secretariat,"
Churkin sad.
He stressed that U.N. peacekeeping operations "should be carried out
in strict compliance with the U.N. Charter, with the Security Council
bearing the main responsibility for maintaining international peace and
security".
-0-zak/