Viktor Yushchenko Inaugurated as Ukrainian President Amid EU and US Support

As Viktor Yushchenko took the oath of office as Ukraine's new president, he marked the culmination of the Orange Revolution, a democratic revolt that brought him to power. In a ceremony attended by foreign dignitaries, including US Secretary of State Colin Powell and EU External Affairs Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Yushchenko vowed to build new relations with the world, especially the European Union. He emphasized Ukraine's desire to integrate with Europe, stating that Ukrainians have "every right to be part of a broader Europe." Yushchenko's inauguration was seen as a significant moment in Ukraine's transition towards democracy, with the EU and US pledging support for the country's new administration.

Key Takeaways:

Viktor Yushchenko's inauguration marked the culmination of the Orange Revolution, a democratic revolt that brought him to power.
Yushchenko emphasized Ukraine's desire to integrate with Europe, stating that Ukrainians have "every right to be part of a broader Europe."
The EU and US pledged support for Yushchenko's administration, with Colin Powell delivering a message of support and an invitation from President George W. Bush to visit the US.
Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Javier Solana proposed initiatives to improve relations with Ukraine, including a new bilateral co-operation agreement, easier visa rules, and extra EU aid for transport infrastructure.
Yushchenko promised not to subordinate Ukraine's interests to those of other countries, stating that "Ukraine will not be a buffer zone or a battleground for anyone."
The ceremony was attended by dignitaries from the EU, US, and Eastern European countries, including Poland and six other ex-communist states.

Statistics:

10 years of authoritarian rule ended with the inauguration of Viktor Yushchenko as Ukraine's new president.
Hundreds of thousands of cheering supporters attended Yushchenko's speech in Kiev's Independence Square.
25 member states of the EU were addressed in a 10-point letter proposing initiatives to improve relations with Ukraine.
6 eastern European ex-communist states had their presidents attend the inauguration ceremony.
January 2005 marked the beginning of Viktor Yushchenko's presidency in Ukraine.

Sources:

Financial Times, "Country Briefing From Financial Times By Stefan Wagstyl and Tom Warner in Kiev and Daniel Dombey in Brussels"