January 23, 2005 - 10:30 AM

Yushchenko inaugurated as Ukraine leader

By Saul Hudson

KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine's President-elect Viktor Yushchenko has met U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell before his
inauguration today and praised the role of U.S. "democratic values" in securing his bruising election victory.

Yushchenko, keen to steer the former Soviet republic closer to the West while consolidating traditional links with Russia,
takes the oath of office in ceremonies meant to be a mass celebration to mark a turning point in Ukraine's history.

Yushchenko, 50, will become the third president in Ukraine's post-Soviet era at a parliamentary ceremony at 10 a.m. on
Sunday.

He will then go to Independence Square, scene of boisterous rallies in his support after the rigged initial vote, to address a
crowd expected to number in the hundreds of thousands.

Yushchenko told Powell before opening talks at his election headquarters that a vast crowd would surge into the square
"with bright, sparkling eyes."

"This would not have happened if we didn't have partners that are advocating democratic principles and shared democratic
values. And I certainly include in this list the United States of America and your personal contribution."

Powell, one of the most prominent guests at the festivities, told Yushchenko Washington would do all it could "to help you
meet the expectations that the Ukrainian people now have." He praised the "magnificent success on your part because you
prevailed in open, free and fair elections."

Yushchenko, a former prime minister and central banker, wants to eradicate corruption and build a country with a
transparent economy and institutions to join the European mainstream. Ukraine borders the 25-nation European Union.

On Monday, Yushchenko will fulfil a promise to make Moscow his first foreign destination by meeting Russian President
Vladimir Putin.

On the eve of his inauguration, Yushchenko called for an end to divisions between Ukraine's nationalist western regions
and the Russian-speaking east that had been accentuated by the election campaign.

VISITS

His programme this week also includes visits to the Council of Europe, a major rights body, the European Parliament, the
World Economic Forum in Switzerland and commemorations in Poland of the Soviet army's liberation of the Auschwitz death
camp.

Presidents of at least seven countries are due to attend the inauguration. The countries will include Poland, Romania,
Hungary, Slovakia, Estonia and Latvia -- all formerly communist states now committed to European integration.

Yushchenko, his face disfigured from dioxin poisoning he blames on secret services, was elected in a race dominated by
mass protests against fraud in a first ballot that he lost. The Supreme Court ordered a second vote which he won comfortably.

On his way to Kiev on Saturday, Powell pledged to help Ukraine boost its economy and join the World Trade Organisation.
He urged Ukraine to move forward with its plans without undermining longstanding ties with neighbouring Russia.

"There are many things we can do to help them ... We hope we can enhance the performance of (Ukraine's) economy as
well," he said aboard his plane. "We can provide assistance."

Powell, due to step down as Bush starts his second term, said he would set down reforms needed to boost Ukraine's WTO
entry chances and assess what aid was required so the U.S. Congress could be lobbied for funds.

Powell's offer of help followed a telephone call to Yushchenko by U.S. President George W. Bush on Saturday in which the
new Ukrainian leader was invited to Washington. Powell said it was hoped the visit would be "in the not too distant future".

The United States helped another former Soviet republic, Georgia, in a similar fashion after its "rose revolution" more than
a year ago brought Western-leaning President Mikhail Saakashvili to power.