By David Ferguson in Brussels

The honeymoon period enjoyed by Ukraine's new leaders in Western capitals is long gone, even if President Viktor Yushchenko is still seen favorably. And as newly appointed Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov visits Brussels, the Council of Europe's Ukraine Monitoring Committee has issued a telling 99-page report on democratic reform in the former Soviet republic.

British Liberal Michael Hancock sat near President Yushchenko as he addressed the Council of Europe Assembly in January, days after being inaugurated. "The orange glow that surrounded him like a halo was almost blinding. He gave promises," said Hancock. "I think that the President has failed to deliver. The ruling elite simply play a game of musical chairs, and the cards are reshuffled," said the UK Liberal.

Whilst the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE welcomed the 'positive developments' in Ukraine under President Yushchenko, the Assembly pointed to 'numerous difficulties' and shortcomings. Adopting its sixth monitoring report on Ukraine since the country joined the Council of Europe in 1995, and the first report since the so-called 'Orange Revolution', the Assembly underlined reform priorities such as fight against corruption, strengthening the rule of law and the organization of free and fair elections in March 2006.

Liechtenstein deputy Renate Wohlwend weighed in on the faulty legal system: "Improvements remain to be made, for example, on judicial reform. Ukraine entered into a number of commitments ten years ago which have not yet been fulfilled," said Wohlwend, co-rapporteur on Ukraine. "The state prosecutor's office is still working on the old Soviet model and its powers are not yet clearly formulated. It is clear that some people wished to retain the Soviet model."

Strasbourg called on Kiev to bring to justice those responsible for the 2004 electoral fraud, guarantee separation of powers, judiciary reform and parliamentary opposition rights. State broadcasters must be transformed into public service channels. "We are also disappointed with the lack of progress in the Gongadze case. We have tabled many amendments on that, and those responsible for the murder must be found. We should insist on that," said Danish co-rapporteur Hanne Severinsen.

"A lot of progress has been made, but a lot remains to be done. For example, we must consider the functioning of the democratic system and the party-building system in Ukraine," said former Flemish Prime Minister Luc Van Den Brande. "It is of fundamental importance to the forthcoming parliamentary elections that there are political parties aiming for the necessary reforms in Ukraine."

"Another problem is that the oligarchs are still in place in Ukraine," continued Van Den Brande. "It is probably not overstating the case to say that corruption is endemic in Ukraine. It is unthinkable that a new oligarchy be allowed to replace the old one."

Russian deputy Vera Oskina recalled Ukraine's commitments, on paper, to support minority languages. "The Russian language and culture are part of Ukraine's cultural heritage, as they are in many other former Soviet countries," said Oskina. "There are, however, gross violations of the principle of the free use and development of minority languages. A number of Russian-speaking schools have been closed and the judiciary is now required to operate in Ukrainian throughout the country."