Ukraine will work to consolidate nationhood, says foreign minister (10/06/96)

Ukraine will work to consolidate nationhood, says foreign minister

by Khristina Lew

NEW YORK - Having successfully adopted a Constitution and introduced a new currency, the Ukrainian government will focus on consolidating Ukrainian society both in Ukraine and the Eastern diaspora, Foreign Affairs Minister Hennadi Udovenko told a press conference here on September 28.

The foreign affairs minister, speaking at the Consulate General during his visit to New York to attend the U.N. General Assembly, said the Ukrainian government will launch a campaign at the oblast level to promote the idea of nationhood.

"The declaration of Ukraine's independence, the passage of a new Constitution and monetary reform are the three most important historical events in independent Ukraine's history," he said. "The Constitution has proved to be a unifying factor, but the society needs to be consolidated."

Despite the Ukrainian government's policy of full religious freedom, Ukraine's Churches, particularly the three Orthodox Churches, have not assisted in consolidating the people, said Mr. Udovenko. In fact, he said, "religion has not been a replacement for communism. We have a vacuum. There are great possibilities for religion in Ukraine. A wide open field."

According to Mr. Udovenko, the idea of nationhood hinges on the economic well-being of Ukraine. He pointed out that the introduction of free market reforms has not produced the results the government had expected. "We have privatized over 40,000 enterprises. The former worker is now part owner of his enterprise, but he is still doing the same work. For him, nothing has changed."

The solution, he said, is to change the psychology of the Ukrainian people. "We need to create a middle class, which the Communist system destroyed with collectivization."

The introduction of the Ukrainian language into everyday life is proceeding gradually, he reported, but cautioned that "it is not always easy in some of our regions." The Ukrainian government is pursuing an "evolutionary" policy on Ukrainianization, he said.

While grappling with the issue of promoting a national idea within its borders, Ukraine must also rejuvenate Ukrainian communities in neighboring Russia, Kazakstan, Slovakia, Hungary and the former Yugoslavia. The rebirth of Ukrainian community life in Slovakia is in the able hands of Ukrainian Ambassador Dmytro Pavlychko, said Mr. Udovenko, but as the largest concentration of Ukrainians reside in the republics of the former Soviet Union, "our focus has to be on the 6 million in Russia and Kazakstan." Russia, added the foreign affairs minister, has not one Ukrainian school.

In addition, Ukraine and Russia continue to debate the thorny issue of dual citizenship, he said. Russia proposes dual citizenship for Russians and Ukrainians, while Ukraine insists on sole citizenship. "When Ukraine declared independence," explained Mr. Udovenko, "we passed strict citizenship laws to protect ourselves."

While the issue of Ukrainian citizenship affects those who fled Ukraine during the second world war, it more strikingly affects the 150,000 Crimean Tatars, who still have not been granted Ukrainian citizenship, and the 5,000-6,000 Ukrainians in Latvia. The foreign affairs minister said the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's legislature, is working to liberalize laws on citizenship.

Ukraine continues to tread a fine line in its relationship with Russia. Negotiations persist on the basing of the former Black Sea Fleet. The fleet has been divided, and Mr. Udovenko said that now Ukraine needs "only to figure out how to dispose of our share of dilapidated vessels."

Ukraine's relationship with the United States, however, continues to grow stronger, notably with the creation of the Kuchma-Gore Commission. "I believe the U.S.-Ukrainian relationship troubles our neighbor Russia," Mr. Udovenko said.

The Ukrainian foreign affairs minister also lauded the strengthening Ukrainian-German relationship. The recent visit of German Chancellor Helmut Kohl "signifies that Germany is turning toward Ukraine, although slowly," he said.