Tens of thousands in Kyiv celebrate anniversary of Ukraine's independence (08/29/04)

Tens of thousands in Kyiv celebrate anniversary of Ukraine's independence

by Roman Woronowycz
Kyiv Press Bureau

KYIV - Tens of thousands of Ukrainians lined the Khreschatyk on August 24 to celebrate Ukraine's 13th anniversary of independence by watching some 5,000 soldiers from all the various military branches dressed in crisp parade dress display their brilliant marching technique. No less impressive: a battle of the bands among the leading orchestras of the country's armed forces, which ended with bursts of daylight fireworks that set a half dozen blue and yellow banners afloat.

State dignitaries filled a special dais on Independence Square to view the hour-and-a-half-long celebration, among them President Leonid Kuchma, who was flanked by Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych and presidential chief of Staff Viktor Medvedchuk. Minister of Defense Yevhen Marchuk, who gave the order that initiated the parade, also presented the main address. He called on the country to keep moving in the direction it has for the last 13 years.

"The last 13 years are witness to the fact that the Ukrainian nation made the right choice," exclaimed Mr. Marchuk.

A short time later the defense minister enumerated a list of Ukraine's accomplishments, which included the establishment of the basic principles of a sovereign, democratic state and undeniable economic and social success.

"Ukraine is taking on the attributes of a democratic society. Its international authority is strengthening," explained Mr. Marchuk.

The previous evening the defense minister and the entire Ukrainian state leadership took part in another celebration at the Palats Ukraina concert hall. During an evening filled with music and song, President Kuchma gave the main presentation during which he underscored that Ukraine's political agenda for the next decade should continue along the path that he had set during his 10 years in office. He also decreed August 23 State Flag Day.

"The point is that the lengthy process of Ukraine's change objectively requires us to ensure the inheritance of the political course," explained Mr. Kuchma. "The next decade must be - and I am convinced that it will be - a continuation, and not a change and not a contradiction of the decade that is ending. I repeat: not a contradiction and not a change, but a continuation."

The Ukrainian president, who was overseeing his last Independence Day celebration as state leader, noted that in the last decade of his presidency he had changed a "province of a lost empire" into a sovereign state and a militarized command control economy into a market type system; he had restructured a totalitarian single-party system into a multi-party, civil society; and transformed a "Sovietized" society into a political nation.

He underscored, however, that only the first stage of this transformation had taken place. He also emphasized that Ukraine and Ukrainians had begun to develop a European national identity. However, the country still did not have the required democratic institutions and levels of freedoms to become part of the European Union and NATO. He also noted that, even if given EU membership, Ukraine would fare badly on the higher level of economic competition.

The Ukrainian president noted that membership in the World Trade Organization would become a priority for Ukraine in 2005. He also underscored that close cooperation with Russia was good for Ukraine, as well as for Europe, because it would help Ukraine raise its living standards to meet levels enjoyed by its Western neighbors.

"In this context, pragmatic and stable relations with our strategic partner Russia, based on friendship and mutual benefits, is not a minus in our relations with Europe as the right would have us believe," explained Mr. Kuchma.

He told Ukrainians that they had two choices before them in the October 31 presidential elections: either to continue along the path laid out by the policies of the last decade, or face a new radical change in direction that could lead to chaos and the "fall of the economic renaissance."

On the morning of August 24 Mr. Kuchma, along with Prime Minister Yanukovych and Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Volodymyr Lytvyn, under tight security, laid flowers before memorials to Taras Shevchenko, considered the country's national bard, and President Mykhailo Hrushevsky, leader of the first independent Ukrainian state in 1918.

After the parade, Ukrainians frolicked on the Khreschatyk on this warm late summer day, and also walked the shores of the Dnipro to watch the 13th annual Independence Cup Regatta. Hoards trucked to Hydro Park and plopped themselves down on the sandy beaches of the Dnipro shoreline to take in the last summer rays. Still others strolled along the promenade between St. Sofia Sobor and St. Michael's Golden-Domed Cathedral, enjoying two of Ukraine's oldest and most respected landmarks.

As dusk approached, however, those who were still in a party mood ascended back onto the Khreschatyk to watch the annual fireworks show and listen to an open-air concert of Ukraine's most popular musicians.

The revelers, of course, had much to say about what the holiday meant to them.

Valeria Aniskov, 39, of Kyiv explained that she was celebrating more than simply 13 years of independence - she was celebrating "the independence of a nation that has been around since Kyivan Rus'."

Artur Korol of Luhansk, who was visiting his friends in Kyiv, called Ukrainian Independence Day not only a holiday, but also a "big" holiday. "Who knows, later on we may even drink 13 shots in honor of it," Mr. Korol quipped.

Leonid Tumanian of Kharkiv, who had been at the parade, said he comes every year. He said this one was better than usual. His grandson Ihor, who was with him, disagreed, however. "Marching parades are good, too, but I like it better when there are tanks and armor," noted Ihor.

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