ON UKRAINIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY: Observing 13 years of independence (08/22/04)

ON UKRAINIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY

Observing 13 years of independence

Below is the text of a statement issued by the Ukrainian World Congress on the occasion of Ukrainian Independence Day.

Every year at this time Ukrainians and their friends throughout the world begin to celebrate their long-awaited and hard-fought independence. At this time we at the Ukrainian World Congress take inventory of not only Ukraine's achievements, but also the successes of its people, both within and abroad.

As the year of Russia in Ukraine merged into the Year of Poland, nevertheless we feel compelled to consider the role of Ukraine in Ukraine. The year belongs to Vitalii Klitschko and Ruslana - the most successful Ukrainians at what they do. Clearly, they had a better year than most of the politicians.

Economically, Ukraine experienced its fourth straight year of growth and by most standards manifested once again the potential ascribed to it at the beginning. U.S.-Ukraine relations received a boost when Ukraine joined peacekeeping in Iraq and the U.S. failed to locate weapons of mass destruction or Kolchuha radar systems. Even Europe-Ukraine relations improved when European Union President Romano Prodi disavowed his own reported assessments that Ukraine would never join the EU.

Still, Ukraine managed to take steps in the opposite direction by entering into a meaningless (hopefully) economic union with Russia. The world community received mixed messages as commemoration of the famine victims of 1932-1933 merged into observances of 350 years of the Pereiaslav Council.

Ukrainian communities abroad continued to sprout and develop. Several countries passed resolutions on the Famine-Holodomor. The diaspora grew in size and relevance. Ukraine's population dwindled but received some benefit from an unanticipated form of capital infusion - transmission of earnings to loved ones back home. The Ukrainian Catholic Church, unfortunately, was denied its long awaited and rightful aspiration as a Patriarchate.

In summary it was an ambiguous 13th year, yet filled with more promise than the previous one and all the others before. For that we should be grateful. Throughout the much more difficult periods over the past centuries, our faith in God and belief in our own Ukrainian people has been steadfast and has enabled us to persevere.

Having overcome so much in the past, we should be invigorated by last year's successes and not despair of its failures. Ukraine and its people within and abroad will only get stronger. In observing this day of renewed hope, let us rededicate ourselves to God and our own good deeds, for, despite some clouds, today the sun of freedom indeed shines upon our land. We greet all Ukrainians in the world with the 13th anniversary of Ukraine's independence.

July 26, 2004
Toronto-New York

For the Ukrainian World Congress:
Askold S. Lozynskyj
Victor Pedenko

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