EDITORIAL: The other 10th anniversary (12/02/01)

EDITORIAL

The other 10th anniversary

It may seem almost anti-climactic to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Ukraine's independence on December 1, 2001. After all, the grand celebrations have already taken place in Kyiv, as well as in countless locations around the world where there are communities of Ukrainians.

But, just because we've already celebrated Ukrainian Independence Day on August 24, 1991, does not mean that we shouldn't stop and think about the significance of the other historic 10th anniversary.

On December 1, 1991, an overwhelming 90.32 percent of the voters of Ukraine voted for independence. As we wrote in this space immediately after that historical referendum, the vote showed that the citizens of Ukraine "are indeed committed to the development of their nation-state. After centuries of failed attempts to attain lasting self-government, a goal which has eluded them throughout their historical experience, the people of Ukraine are faced with a bright future of their own design." The plebiscite also offered proof, we commented, that "after centuries of oppression, centuries of Russification and decades of communism, the people are slowly waking up from a deep slumber that kept them complacent, passive, and at times even indifferent to their fate, to their future." The age-old dream of a free Ukraine had become reality.

After the referendum results became known, Rukh leaders issued a greeting to the diaspora "on the occasion of the clearly manifested will of the Ukrainian nation to attain full sovereign independence as confirmed by the decisive results of the referendum." The people of Ukraine had spoken. This was a shining example of self-determination. Leaders of Ukrainian organizations around the world rejoiced in the vote and called upon the governments of the countries of their settlement to extend formal recognition to the newly independent state.

The first country to grant formal recognition was Ukraine's neighbor to the west, Poland, which made the historic announcement the day after the referendum. Canada, too, acted on December 2, announcing that it recognizes Ukraine's independence and would move to establish diplomatic ties.

The United States, alas, was much more cautious. While welcoming "this expression of democracy which is a tribute to the spirit of the Ukraine people" and offering congratulations to Leonid Kravchuk, who was elected independent Ukraine's first president in elections held the same day as the referendum, the United States would say only that it "looks forward to the kind of normal relationship that one would expect with a democratizing country." In fact the U.S. statement ( see "Turning the pages...." below) spent about as much time reassuring Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev of its continued cooperation and Russian President Boris Yeltsin of a strengthening of ties as it did on Ukraine.

Subsequent events occurred faster than most of the world could react. With the formation of the Commonwealth of Independent States a week after Ukraine's independence referendum, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was dead.

Ten days after that, U.S. Secretary of State James Baker was in Kyiv (at the time still spelled "Kiev") for talks with newly elected President Kravchuk. After his meeting Secretary Baker indicated that the United States was moving closer to extending diplomatic recognition, having been satisfied with Ukraine's commitment to achieving nuclear-free status, as well as assurances on economic and political reforms.

Finally, on December 25, the United States formally issued recognition of Ukraine's independence. The action came within hours after Mr. Gorbachev's resignation and was part of an announcement that the United States would establish diplomatic relations with Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Kazakstan, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan.

There was cause for celebration as The Weekly's year-end issue for 1991 went to press: the number of countries recognizing independent Ukraine stood at 25 and the number was growing daily.

And so, it is only fitting that we celebrate two independence days: the first boldly proclaimed by Ukraine's leaders via an act of Parliament, the second affirmed, loud and clear, by the people.

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