UKRAINE'S DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE: What the act means for Ukraine (09/01/91)

UKRAINE'S DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

What the act means for Ukraine

by Ihor Yukhnovsky

Only independence will allow Ukraine to optimize its economic and social development. To think that one can reorganize a country as massive and diverse as the USSR in its present form is wishful thinking. The effort required for this task is simply too great.

The break-up of the Soviet Union is a natural process. The emergence of Ukraine as a state is a logical outcome of the striving of the Ukrainian people for self-determination. In this regard, it is important to stress that we consider all citizens of our republic as the Ukrainian people; the people are the sole source of power in the republic.

But how can a democratic Ukrainian state be established? The Supreme Rada (Parliament) proclaimed independence and decreed the holding of a referendum on December 1, 1991, to affirm this act. In the Ukrainian Parliament there exists an official democratic opposition; it was on its initiative that the extraordinary session of Parliament was held and independence proclaimed. As a member of the United Nations, Ukraine joins the Vienna Convention. A crucial issue for us is our relationship to Russia and to the union treaty.

Ukraine will not sign a union treaty in which the union is a sovereign state in its own right and a subject of international law. However, we will enter into agreements for economic, political, military and cultural cooperation with Russia and the other republics.

If the de-communisization of our republic proceeds normally, we will have good relations with Russia. It is essential that this process be carried out along a strictly constitutional path. We will not be satisfied with anything less than full democratization.

The division of the armed forces of the USSR is an issue of paramount importance. Ukraine will establish its own national army. However, we want to place strategic weapons under inter-republican jurisdiction. We want Ukraine to be nuclear-free.

Ukraine will pursue radical economic reform. We are asserting control of our economy by nationalizing the property of all-Union organs and by establishing our own currency. We will encourage the development of private enterprise and will create a climate favorable for foreign investment. Ukraine will assume its share of the USSR foreign debt.

Independence for us means that we finally have a chance to establish a free and open society.

Ihor Yukhnovsky is a member of the Presidium of the Ukrainian Parliament and leader of the parliamentary opposition, the National Council.