Kuchma: no retreat from course of economic, political reforms (06/01/97)

PRESIDENT LEONID KUCHMA'S WORKING VISIT TO WASHINGTON

Kuchma: no retreat from course of economic, political reforms

Following is the full text of President Leonid Kuchma's acceptance speech at the 1997 Democracy Award Dinner sponsored by the International Foundation for Election Systems and the Ukraine-U.S. Business Council at the U.S. Department of State's Benjamin Franklin Room on May 15.

I regard this award from the International Foundation for Election Systems as a high appraisal of Ukraine's achievements in constructing a democratic state.

Since the very beginning of Ukraine's existence as an independent state, we took the course of establishing it worldwide as a democratic European state.

The adoption of the Constitution of Ukraine in June of last year was a logical conclusion to a transitional stage in state-building. As an act of national harmony and consolidation of the Ukrainian nation, it confirmed both to us and to many others a range of very important matters.

First of all, our state and its people have a political consensus regarding the future development of Ukraine as an independent democratic state. Secondly, there is a political elite in Ukraine that can govern the state on a democratic basis. And thirdly, the passage of the Constitution was a heavy blow to those forces that count on the return of the old regime and the restoration of the former empire.

The Constitution of Ukraine also has summed up and fixed the experience of state-building of our nation's past generations. I believe its provisions on human rights and freedoms, branches of power, and the supremacy of law reflect the mentality of Ukrainians, who, as long as 500 years ago, elected their leaders and, as far back as the 12th century, composed the first code of legal norms.

Thus, this civilized model of Ukraine's behavior in state-political life, which gained authority for us in the international arena, historically has characterized the Ukrainian state-building process.

Ukraine's consistent, pragmatic and well-balanced foreign policy is conditioned by old traditions, and the geographical and historical existence of Ukraine as part of Europe.

Throughout its centuries-old history, Ukraine has never staged wars of occupation. Ukraine is not weighed down by stereotypes of imperialistic thinking. We never divided states into small or large. And, a distinctive feature of Ukrainians is tolerance, and, according to some historians, "elemental democracy."

Today, now that the period of state-building is complete, the leadership of Ukraine must resolve three tremendous tasks.

These are, first, the fundamental reconstruction of a political system from a totalitarian system to a democratic law-governed state. Secondly, the transformation of the economy aimed at development of market reforms. Thirdly, a change in the psychology of both individual citizens and society as a whole, whereby the state's ascendancy in all spheres of life is replaced by the self self-realization of a free citizen of a free law-governed state.

It is worthwhile to recall the words of one of the "fathers of the American revolution," Samuel Adams. His statement that the moving force behind a moral state is its prosperity and security is particularly well-known.

I must note - I admit this frankly, without particular satisfaction - that myths and stereotypes have surrounded our state since the very proclamation of Ukraine's sovereignty. Academic and political circles, and, of course, the mass media, had a hand in their creation.

One cannot say that these myths and stereotypes are absolutely groundless. But I want to cite an American writer, Mark Twain, who said, "The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated."

Do you remember the myth of "suicidal nationalism" which, in the opinion of George Bush, would destroy Ukraine? Or fears of nuclear threats supposedly emanating from Ukraine? Or fantasies on the theme of Ukraine's huge foreign debts?

I could go on, but I will not. Life demonstrated who was correct.

I believe that much more serious in their consequences are assertions about corruption in Ukraine. By the way, the terms "corruption," "racket" and "blackmail" obviously are not of Ukrainian origin. But that is not the crux of the matter. We realize that corruption has negatively affected the image of Ukraine and potential investors' trust in our country.

My position regarding this issue is decisive and uncompromising. I believe you are familiar with the serious steps that have been taken recently in this direction - first of all, the establishment of the National Bureau of Investigations.

But let us act together. We are interested in utilizing your rich experience. For this we require the assistance of the United States.

In conclusion I would like to underline the following. We attach great significance to the fact that Ukrainian-American relations have acquired the character of a strategic partnership and have become an important factor in strengthening the political and economic independence of Ukraine. We regard them also as one of the important elements in strengthening international and European stability and security.

Let no one doubt this: We know what we want, we know what to do, and we have the necessary political will to do it.

There will be no retreat from the course of economic and political reforms!

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