Freedom House urges recognition (12/08/91)

Freedom House urges recognition

NEW YORK - Freedom House, the New York-based human rights organization, urges the United States to recognize Ukraine as an independent nation and has adjusted the country's rating from "not free" to "partly free" in its annual Comparative Survey of Freedom to be issued later this month.

The Comparative Survey of Freedom, Freedom House's annual effort to monitor political rights and civil liberties, rates individual countries on a "free," "partly free" and "not free" basis. Due to the free and fair presidential elections and the increased freedom of the press, Ukraine has moved to a "partly free" rating. Ukraine was not considered "free" as a result of a number of uncertain variables, including the entrenched, powerful apparachiks and the remaining Soviet troops.

In addition to the changed rating, Freedom House recognized Ukraine as an independent nation in its survey and urges the United States should as well.

"We urge that the Administration expeditiously recognize Ukrainian independence," said Freedom House Executive Director R. Bruce McColm. "A long-term delay of recognition could lead to a Yugoslav scenario where the West's failure to quickly acknowledge Croatia's and Slovenia's democratic secession simply encouraged Serbia and the federal army to use force."

George Zarycky, Freedom House's specialist on Eastern Europe, questioned the "ad ministration's preconditions for formal recognition, including the resolution of the nuclear question. It may send the wrong signal."

"Leaders of the Ukraine, site of the Chornobyl catastrophe, have repeatedly said they want a nuclear-free zone. But they rightly fear unilaterally turning over nuclear weapons to the Russian federation or a crumbling communist center both of which have oppressed Ukraine in the past," said Mr. Zarycky.