Ukrain: Yushchenko Sworn In

After finally winning the re-elections on December 26, 2004, Yushchenko was sworn into office yesterday at the Ukrainian Parlliament and has officially started duty. The new President addressed hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Independence Square. "We are connected to a single civilization with the European people. Our place is in the EU," he said. Yushchenko promised to rescue Ukraine from corruption, poverty and tyranny and stressed that they will secure freedom of expression, create new employment opportunities, and pull the income level to a normal level.

The Ukrainian people took to the streets last November because of corruption during the presidential elections so the polls were repeated in December. Many world leaders congratulated Yushchenko including US Secretary of State Colin Powell who attended his inauguration ceremony.