Leaders in Ukraine denounce attempts to revive Soviet Union (03/31/96)

Leaders in Ukraine denounce attempts to revive Soviet Union

by Marta Kolomayets
Kyiv Press Bureau

KYIV - The union treaty between Russia and Belarus scheduled to be signed by Presidents Boris Yeltsin and Alyaksandr Lukashenka on April 2 in Moscow has spurred Ukraine's leadership to denounce any attempts at reviving the Soviet Union.

According to a statement issued by Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 27, should a new state entity be formed by choice of the Russian and Belarusian peoples, Ukraine, as an independent state, will develop relations with that entity based on mutually accepted international legal standards.

"As regards Ukraine, its people have chosen the course of developing their own independent state, a neutral state in the world community, which does not belong to any bloc," noted the statement, which went on to explain that Ukraine does support economic integration within the Commonwealth of Independent States.

"Ukraine has always attached priority significance to Ukrainian-Russian and Ukrainian-Belarusian relations, and views the future of these relations as ones which are good-neighborly, friendly and equal with mutually beneficial economic, humanitarian and cultural ties, based on respect of each other's sovereignty, territorial integrity, inviolability of state borders and non-interference in other's affairs," the statement underscored.

"Simultaneously, Ukraine is fundamentally against any attempts to restore the Soviet Union in any form. Such actions may make it necessary for Ukraine to review its foreign policy priorities, among them relations with the CIS," noted the document.

Belarusian President Lukashenka told Interfax-West in Miensk on March 28 that "only the stand of the Ukrainian authorities is preventing Ukraine from joining the intensifying integration within the CIS."

Although he noted that the forces opposing integration are more powerful in Ukraine than in Belarus, and there is a "special point of view on the issue in western Ukraine," there is no reason why Kyiv should not become part of a closer union, which Russia and Belarus hope to form on April 2."

"I doubt that the Ukrainian people's mentality is different from that of the peoples of Belarus and Russia," said Mr. Lukashenka, who added that the April 2 action will be a "political push which will revive the situation in the Commonwealth."

Indeed, this new union has already been referred to by leaders in Ukraine, Russia and Belarus as the CIS-2. However, President Leonid Kuchma has underlined, Ukraine is "categorically against forming any kind of "supra-national structures."

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yevhen Marchuk said in an interview;on March 27 that "the Belarus-Russia accord is not a model for Ukraine."

"Retro is good in art, in fashion, but not in politics," said the prime minister. "And any attempts to renew the Soviet Union can carry dangerous consequences."

Moreover, the creation of the CIS-2 as a structure that would evolve into a new Soviet Union is unlikely, since even the first CIS is an amorphous body that can't function even on an economic level, he noted.

"Belarusian President Lukashenka has received carte-blanche from the Russian leadership to implement a pilot project to create an empire," said Ukrainian Deputy Mykola Zhulynsky on March 23.

"This is a propaganda move which is in the interests of Russian President Boris Yeltsin prior to presidential elections in June," he explained.

He added that this move will certainly "activate Ukrainian left-wing forces, who wish to create conditions for Ukraine to join the new empire."

Ivan Drach, chairman of the Congress of the Ukrainian Intelligentsia, said he sees this latest ploy by Messrs. Lukashenka and Yeltsin as a signal for national democratic forces to energize themselves and defend Ukraine's sovereignty.

"Ukraine needs to disassociate itself from any talks of integration with Russia and should immediately launch the process of leaving the CIS," he stated.

Oleh Vitovych, a member of the ultra- right Ukrainian National Assembly (UNA) and a deputy in Parliament, said he was quite disturbed by the recent intentions of Belarus to sign an accord with Russia.

"This may lead to increased activity among the left-wing forces in Ukraine," he noted. "We will do everything necessary to activate patriotic forces in Russia, both political and social, who will defend Russian statehood and condemn the CIS and the revival of the USSR. We plan to support our friends from the radical wing of the Belarusian National Front, as well."

"Perhaps there is a positive side to this integration between Russia and Belarus," observed Leonid Kravchuk, Ukraine's first president and currently a deputy in Parliament. "Maybe now the constructive, progressive forces in our country, the democrats who want to see an independent Ukraine, will unite," he said.

Rukh, the Popular Movement of Ukraine, also reacted to the impending Belarus-Russia accord, sending an appeal to international organizations, parliamentary and government circles, and the world community, urging them to defend democracy in Belarus and to protect the rights of its citizens.

The statement noted that, "democratic principles, civil rights and freedoms are being violated in Belarus," and reported that on March 24 the "Spetsnaz" (special forces) broke up a rally in Miensk, which was held to mark the 78th anniversary of the Belarusian People's Republic. According to the statement, tear gas and physical force were used against demonstrators.

Rukh has called on representatives of Ukraine's democratic forces to picket the Belarusian Embassy in Kyiv, with signs reading "Hands off independent Belarus" and "No to Russian Imperialism."

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