LETTER TO THE EDITOR (08/11/96)

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Pressing issues for Ukraine

Dear Editor:

It is almost five years since independence and the situation in Ukraine still remains chaotic. Wages are low, prices are high, inflation is still not under control, the hryvnia has yet to be introduced, the International Monetary Fund appears to be most concerned with the state of the economy, privatization is slow, production of goods and their distribution are virtually at a standstill, the mafia and racketeers basically control the economy, Russian language dominates television and radio, and the teaching of the Ukrainian language is not expanding and is even being sabotaged.

Most Ukrainians and the people in the diaspora have become very pessimistic and disillusioned. Small businesses from the West, which are the backbone of any economy, are reluctant to invest in Ukraine in view of the above circumstances, and particularly because they don't want to get involved with the mafia and/or racketeers and the ever-expanding graft and corruption.

Since Ukrainian independence, I have been viewing the situation in the land of my birth with alarm and trepidation. I'm not a citizen of Ukraine and don't live there and could just sit idly by and ignore the plight of Ukraine and its people, but I can't. I know that I'm an outsider, one of the diaspora, living a good life in the West, but I also have a close affinity for my former homeland and its citizens.

The present conditions are unacceptable and cannot continue.

Something must be done and must be done quickly if Ukraine is to survive and prosper and take its full place in the family of nations.

The efforts, to date, to build a nation are not working. The people appear to be discontented with politicians, the stand-offs in Parliament, the too numerous political parties, the lack of meaningful progress and the fact that their standards of living are eroding. The common people don't know whom to turn to for their salvation.

Even the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is splintered, and the various factions are warring among themselves aimlessly and without any real leadership and setting a terrible example for the people and especially the children. Churches are being hijacked by other branches in the name of religion. World religious cults and zealots are trekking to Ukraine in droves to save the souls of the poor, down-trodden and the disillusioned.

I don't profess to have the answers to Ukraine's problems, but only know that these problems must be tackled head on and rapidly by the president, by the prime minister, by the chairman of Parliament, by Parliament and most important of all, by the citizens of Ukraine, who must pull up their shirt sleeves, shed the Soviet mentality ("what can I take from the state") and get to work, and demand that elected politicians and Church leaders work with them to build a strong, freedom-loving, tolerant, cohesive, patriotic, proud and prosperous nation.

To this end, I would advocate the following actions.

A forceful campaign must be undertaken to eradicate the mafia and racketeers and the existing and rampant bribery, corruption and graft, and that this campaign be pursued at all times with all due diligence and without let-up as this criminality and rot must be stamped out if the nation is to be just and equitable.
An impartial, fair and completely independent judicial system must be implemented with well-trained judges. Also, police forces must be re-trained and well-paid and bribes to police officers strictly outlawed.
The Ukrainian language must be the only state language, without any exceptions, and all schools must be Ukrainian schools where other languages could be taught as a voluntary subject as part of the school curriculum. High-calibre television programs and radio productions in the Ukrainian language must be a top priority, and, in this regard, and as a stop-gap measure, top quality Western programming should be sought from Western governments in order that they could be translated to Ukrainian and broadcast throughout Ukraine to encourage people, and especially the young, to watch programs televised in the Ukrainian language instead of being subjected to the present poor Ukrainian programming, which puts people to sleep and encourages them to turn to Russian programming. Ukraine cannot turn to Canada's example of two languages, an experience that is tearing Canada apart.

The Ukrainian culture is rich and is known throughout the world; and it must be encouraged and preserved at all costs, as culture and language will ensure Ukraine's preservation forever.

Ukrainian pop music and festivals like the Chervona Ruta must be given a very high priority as they embolden the teenagers of Ukraine.

The three separate Ukrainian Orthodox Churches must be united as they are tearing apart the Ukrainian religious fabric and make a mockery of religion. A respected mediator must be appointed with all due haste to attempt to patch up the differences and unite the three groups into one Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
As obviously the present economic situation in Ukraine is a disaster, my boldest suggestion would be that the president and government of Ukraine hire the best talented person in the world at a top salary as manager or chairman of the board of Ukraine with extraordinary powers on a contract basis renewable from year to year and answerable only to the president of Ukraine until the present birthing difficulties are overcome. One name that comes to mind quickly is George Soros of the Soros Foundations.

I am not aware of any such precedent except in British Columbia, where in 1986 the government was committed to stage a world's fair and was most concerned with ensuring that it was a triumph and that it be constructed on time and on budget. They appealed to the top businessperson in the province to take on the job of chairman. He accepted on the condition that he would be a virtual dictator, did a superb job and the fair was an immense success. It is my contention that the Ukrainian experiment in nation-building is not working too well and that Ukraine has nothing to lose in engaging a top-notch world business figure with an impeccable reputation as a virtual "benevolent dictator."

I am very very much encouraged that a new Constitution has finally been adopted for Ukraine. This is a significant step on the democratic path. However, the matters that I have set out must also be addressed at once in order for Ukraine to attain prominence and prosperity.

Mir Huculak
Vancouver

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