PLEDGE
Yushchenko has pledged to fight corruption and nudge Ukraine closer toward Europe, while maintaining "friendly ties" with Russia. He also said that he would consider replacing all of the country's appointed governors. Before the court-ordered revote, some eastern governors raised the prospect of seeking autonomy if Yushchenko were to win.
Yanukovych, who was backed by the Kremlin, draws his support largely from Ukraine's east where pro-Russia sentiment is high, while Kiev and Ukraine's west are strongholds of support for Yushchenko, a Western-leaning reformer.
Borys Bespalyi, a Yushchenko-allied lawmaker, said Yushchenko's top priority will be to ensure "full national unity." He also said plans calling for greater transparency in government and business will ensure that "laws, not people, rule."
Also, Yushchenko and outgoing President Leonid Kuchma were both scheduled to meet separately with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili in Kiev yesterday. Saakashvili, who has shown his support for Yushchenko by regularly wearing an orange tie, was expected to appear later yesterday with Yushchenko at Kiev's main New Year's celebration on Independence Square.
The Georgian leader came to power after a bloodless revolution last year that Yushchenko's supporters have tried to model their own "orange revolution" on.
RSS