Ukrainians support tradition of New Year presidential addresses.

KIEV, December 29 (Itar-Tass) - Seventy-three percent of Ukrainians
welcome the idea of New Year presidential addresses and wouldn't like this
tradition to be broken, Ukraine's sociological group "Rating" said on
Monday.
Out of the three Ukraine presidents who have held this post since 1991
when Ukraine became independent, most respondents (13%) gave preferences
to President Leonid Kuchma. Leonid Kravchuk and Viktor Yushchenko lag
behind with eight percent.
Thirty-eight percent of Ukrainians believe that all the three
presidents were good at giving New Year speeches. It was noted that
Yushchenko's addresses were particularly liked in rural areas, while
Kuchma's speeches were popular among urban residents.
The survey covered 2,000 respondents in all parts of Ukraine. It was
held from November 28 to December 7.
All the leading presidential candidates in Ukraine hope to get on air
this New Year night, the newspaper "Delo" reported on Monday.
In addition to incumbent President Viktor Yushchenko, opposition
leader Viktor Yanukovich will deliver a New Year address at the "Ukraina"
Channel.
Parliament Speaker Vladimir Litvin will appear on the First National
Channel, the Fifth Channel, the Intera Channel and the "24" Channel.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko is not going to miss her
chance. She will address the nation on the second minute of the New Year
from Kiev's Independence Square that will be the venue of a New Year
concert.
Most Ukrainian television channels haven't yet approved their
broadcast schedules. So some presidential candidates in Ukraine shouldn't
lose heart. After all, anything's possible on a New Year night.

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