Turning the pages back... December 2, 1991 (12/02/01)

Turning the pages back...

December 2, 1991

Ten years ago, on Monday, December 2, 1991, a day after Ukraine's referendum on independence, White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater delivered an official reaction to the vote in which an overwhelming 90.32 percent of voters approved the independence proclamation adopted on August 24 by the Supreme Council of Ukraine. Sadly, the U.S. statement was restrained - some would say "prudent," quoting a favorite word of President George Bush - and it repeated many of the previously enunciated requirements for U.S. recognition of Ukraine's independence. Following are excerpts of the statement.

* * *

Yesterday, in a free and fair vote, the people of Ukraine voted for independence. The United States welcomes this expression of democracy which is a tribute to the spirit of the Ukrainian people. The president would also like to congratulate Leonid Kravchuk on his apparent victory in Ukraine's first free presidential election. Yesterday's referendum and election were also a tribute to the defeat of the coup in which Boris Yeltsin played such a pivotal role and a positive development for the New Europe.

For its part, the United States looks forward to the kind of normal relationship with Ukraine that one would expect it to have with a democratizing country. Ukraine's aspiration to join the Euroatlantic community is striking testimony to the will for liberty in a nation which has persisted and survived despite the terrible calamities of the 20th century.

In developing this relationship, we also intend to continue our cooperation with President Mikhail Gorbachev and his government and to strengthen our expanding ties with President Yeltsin and the Russian government as well as the other republics.

We are aware that independence raises some complex issues to be resolved among Russia, Ukraine and the center. The establishment of a new cooperative relationship between Russia and Ukraine, based on openness and mutual respect, will be a test of whether they are capable of making the transition to democratic societies which respect the rights of individuals. We hope and believe that the leaders in Moscow and Kiev will establish such a relationship. The president has instructed the secretary of state to dispatch a special emissary, Assistant Secretary for European and Canadian Affairs Thomas Niles, to discuss with the newly-elected authorities in Kiev our future relationships with Ukraine. In particular, Secretary James Baker has asked the special emissary to consult closely with the Ukrainian leadership on three issues of fundamental importance. ...

The transformation of the Soviet Union as we have known it is of vital significance not only to us but to our European and other allies and we, therefore, will continue to coordinate our approach with them.

In closing, we commend Ukrainians for pursuing the democratic path, both in the referendum on independence and in its popular vote for president. As both the Ukrainian and American people will understand, genuine and effective independence requires a never-ending commitment to democratic values and practices.

As the people of Ukraine, Russia and the other republics continue peacefully and democratically to pursue the hard work of freedom, the president supports them in their work and wishes them peace and prosperity.

Source: "White House reacts to referendum," The Ukrainian Weekly, December 8, 1991, Vol. LIX, No. 49.

| Home Page |