"This is a victory of freedom over tyranny," he declared, "the victory of law over lawlessness."
Laying out the central goal of his administration, he said, "Our place is in the European Union. We will create new jobs. Whoever wants to work will have the opportunity to work and get an appropriate salary. We will fight corruption in Ukraine. Taxes will be enforced, business will be transparent, . . . we will become an honest nation."
Fireworks explode over Independence Square to mark inauguration of Yushchenko, whose supporters had occupied the square for weeks.
(Sergei Grits -- AP)
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In an earlier interview, Yushchenko said he did not want to launch a widespread and potentially divisive examination of the prior government's actions but said his government would investigate select cases of privatization of state assets and other alleged crimes, including the murder of a prominent journalist.
Among Yushchenko's first tasks is the selection of a government that will satisfy the diverse ideologies of those who backed him, in particular his choice for prime minister. The chief candidates reportedly include Yulia Tymoshenko, a key supporter who wants radical changes, and Petro Poroshenko, a moderate member of parliament and one of Yushchenko's key financial backers.
Yushchenko also spoke to those who had opposed him in the elections, particularly people in Russian-speaking areas of eastern Ukraine, some of whom fear his government will undermine their language, culture and education.
"Everyone can teach his children the language of his forefathers," the new president noted.
Powell met with Yushchenko before the inauguration.
"The United States wants to do everything we can to help you meet the expectations of the Ukrainian people after this turmoil," Powell said at the start of the meeting.
"I'm sure that on Independence Square you will see hundreds of thousands of people with very bright eyes," Yushchenko said. "None of that would have been possible without our partners who share the same democratic values as we do, in which I include President Bush and you."
Ukraine has 1,650 troops in Iraq, the fourth-largest contingent in the U.S.-led military operation. Kuchma ordered them withdrawn by the end of June, and Yushchenko has said he will not reverse that decision. But President Aleksander Kwasniewski of Poland, who attended the ceremony and whose country heads a multinational force in Iraq that includes the Ukrainian troops, said he would ask Yushchenko not to pull out of Iraq precipitously.
Later in the evening, Yushchenko and his wife, an American citizen, attended a gala concert. The conductor wore an orange scarf.
