SPEECH BY AMBASSADOR LUKIANENKO (01/31/93)

SPEECH BY AMBASSADOR LUKIANENKO

Following is an unofficial translation and abridgement of a speech given by the ambassador of Ukraine to Canada, Levko Lukianenko, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the declaration of independence by the Ukrainian National Republic. (Text provided by the Ukrainian Information Bureau based in Ottawa.)

Greetings on the occasion of the memorable date of January 22, 1918, the date on which the independence of the Ukrainian National Republic was declared.

Today our people celebrate for the 75th time the proclamation of the Fourth Universal, the legal act that announced the rebirth of Ukrainian statehood.

Our people have had an interesting history:

In prehistoric times they were the first to tame the horse, and in this way dramatically widened mankind's horizons and potential.
They mastered the principles of agriculture, and 500 years before Christ were supplying wheat to Hellenic Greece.
They formed the Scythian state, which left mankind a heritage of beautiful golden decorative objects from that era.
Having abandoned the nomadic life a thousand years before most other nations, our people became the bulwark that bore the brunt of the eastern invasion of Europe.
The Kievan period brought Christianity and royal intermarriages with the courts of Western Europe, high levels of learning, and a golden age of development.

Ukraine has a favorable geographic location, rich natural resources and fertile soil. However, the lack of natural geographic protective barriers around its territory has throughout the centuries been an important factor in the destiny of Ukraine.

As an agricultural people we were tied to the soil. This gave us strength, but sometimes hindered us in organizing a quick defense from enemy attack. An agricultural way of life made us a nation of individualists, who liked to make their own decisions, and who valued above all the independence of the individual. This highly developed sense of individualism hindered the formation of a stable central system of government and weakened the state.

Then followed Tatar invasions, Lithuanian domination, and Polish occupation. The Ukrainian people gradually freed themselves from these through the growth and the spread of the Kozak state. The victories of the Kozaks in defending Ukraine became a source of inspiration, inspiring some to take sword in hand and join the Kozak Sich, and others, itinerant musicians, to create beautiful ballads and bring them to all parts of the country.

From the Ukraine-Russia Treaty of Pereyaslav in 1654 to the destruction of the Hetman State in 1764 was a span of 110 years. It took 100 years for the Russian empire to subdue Ukraine. To 19th century Russian imperialists it seemed that Ukraine would never rise from its knees, and that they would be able to rule it forever. To their dismay, in the year 1917, Ukraine was resurrected.

The events of that year were as follows, and illustrate how quickly the idea of federation with Russia gave way to a declaration of complete independence.

February 1917: A democratic revolution erupts in the imperial capital, St. Petersburg.
March: A Russian Provisional Government having been formed in St. Petersburg, Tsar Nicholas renounces the throne. A Ukrainian National Congress is called to Kyyiv, with the participation of about 1,000 representatives of various organizations and parties; a Central Committee, with Mykhailo Hrushevsky as president, is formed. A Ukrainian Military Congress takes place in Kyyiv, with the participation of approximately 700 delegates, and elects an 18-man General Military Committee, with Symon Petliura at its head.
May-June: The first Ukrainian peasants' congress is held in Kyyiv. Both the military and the peasants' congresses uphold the demands of the Central Council (Rada) regarding the autonomy of Ukraine. The Russian Provisional Government, which technically is still the supreme legal authority, rejects the demands of the Central Council. The Second Military Congress in Kyyiv meets and advises the Central Council to start implementing autonomy. The First Universal (Act) declares Ukrainian autonomy.
November: Power is transferred to the Central Council in Kyyiv. The Third Universal of the Central Council proclaims the formation of the Ukrainian National Republic within the framework of a Russian federation.
January 22, 1918. The Central Council issues the Fourth Universal, which proclaims the formation of an independent Ukrainian state.

The universal reads:

"People of Ukraine! Through your efforts, your words, and your deeds, a free Ukrainian National Republic is formed on Ukrainian territory. The dreams of your ancestors have been realized..."

"...We, the Ukrainian Central Council hereby notify the citizens of Ukraine:

From this day, the Ukrainian National Republic becomes a sovereign, free, totally independent Ukrainian state.

"We would like to live in peace and good will with our neighbors, that is, Russia, Poland, Austria, Romania, Turkey, and others, but none may interfere in the life of the Ukrainian Independent Republic."

Ukraine wished for peaceful coexistence with Russia and its other neighbors on a just basis, on the basis of self-government. Not on the basis of enslaving the lands of others, not on the basis of forcing one's own will on others, but on the basis of the recognition that Ukraine has the right to be master of its own house, and the right to govern its own affairs.

Unfortunately, Russian chauvinists responded to this peaceful appeal by Ukraine with ultimatums, armed invasion, and occupation. Although Russian publicists wrote volumes about the Russians' love of Ukraine, the common Slavic origin, the presumed similarities of language, culture and other interests, in the end the Russian chauvinists proved to be governed by other instincts, by a drive to enlarge their empire. For them, the best Ukrainian was one who had become a Russian.

Having lost the war with Russia, (1917-1920), the Ukrainian people nevertheless did not cease their struggle for independence. The entire 70 years of the existence of the Soviet Union were characterized by a continuous conflict: on the part of the rulers, an attempt to assimilate and destroy the Ukrainian nation, and to populate the country with Russians; on the part of Ukrainians, the uprisings of the 20s, the underground resistance of the 30s, the insurgent uprisings during the war and to the mid-50s, the national-democratic and human rights movements of the 60s to the 80s, and finally the break-up of the empire and the rebirth of the Ukrainian state.

How unfortunate that our fathers and grandfathers were unable to maintain the independence of the Ukrainian National Republic, proclaimed 75 years ago.

The past 75 years would have been quite different. Ukraine could have maintained a democracy and a free economic system. There would not have been forced collectivization, or the genocidal famine of the 30s, there would not have been Russification and the same plundering of the Ukrainian culture, faith and traditions. The nation could have developed in its own natural way, developing its intellectual potential, and using its natural resources for the benefit of its people.

Why did the Ukrainian National Republic not survive? It did not survive because of the low level of national awareness - even of some of its talented leaders, who, in the turbulent times of the world war and the civil war, fought, not for the interests of Ukraine, but for various communist and anarchist interests, and even for Russia. The civil war pitted brother against brother, and intolerance reigned.

Will our people now repeat the mistakes of that tragic period? Will they destroy their own hard-won independence in the second or third year of its existence?

Can people learn from their own mistakes? Certainly they can!

An example from the war of independence in the early part of the 20th century: When one of his generals did not obey the Chief of Staff's command, he ordered an army against him. In the resulting battle, many men were killed. And what if these two armies had instead turned together against the Bolshevik aggressor? Years later, however, when a general refused to obey the directives of the OUN-UPA (Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists/Ukrainian Insurgent Army), Metropolitan Mstyslav was sent to negotiate with him. The first round of negotiations did not end in agreement. However, the second round did bring agreement, and allowed for a solution to the problem, without the spilling of blood.

Another example. During the Revolution and the war against the Russian oppressor, dozens of armed battalions were in existence, aside from the legal army of the UNR. Political parties were often in disagreement, and did not establish a mechanism for joint decisionmaking. As a result, the forces for independence were divided. They did not join forces to achieve their goal, and were therefore, defeated and again engulfed in 70 years of slavery.

Currently, however, both democrats and communists have reached a compromise in order to avoid a civil war. The communists, in fear of such reprisals as occurred in Romania, have assumed independent democratic positions, and the democrats, in the interest of unity in the struggle for independence, have tacitly agreed to a continuation of the nomenklatura's control of the factories, cooperatives and other spheres of economic activity.

However, the attempt to maintain this peaceful coexistence exacts a high price: it is slowing the restructuring of the political system, and is slowing the transfer to a market economy.

This coexistence with the nomenklatura brings with it a continuation of the economic crisis and poverty which, in turn, may lead to social upheaval. Russian chauvinists would certainly take advantage of such an upheaval to again reoccupy Ukraine; therefore social upheaval would be catastrophic.

Cooler heads are prevailing because it is understood that as an independent nation, Ukraine has the potential in two to three years to climb out of its poverty, whereas, if independence were lost and Ukraine were again reoccupied, the country could never aspire to normal conditions and to a normal standard of living.

We are now in circumstances very similar to those of 1918: the empire has disintegrated, we are in the second year of independence, but the social problems have not only not been solved, but have become more complex. A definite majority of the forces of independence in Ukraine understands very well how critical the situation is, and is looking for a solution to the crisis through a path to independence, and to a parliamentary system. This is a lengthy and painful road, but it is the only road we can follow, the only road that will improve the welfare of our country.

We have seen the results of attempts to resolve problems among political parties, forces and leaders, by revolution, the sword, the gun and prisons. Today's Ukrainian politicians, survivors of the cruel occupation, will not permit repetition of such a tragedy. And the memorable day of January 22, 1918, when the Ukrainian National Republic was proclaimed, will remain a glorious day in the history of the struggle of all Ukrainians for the independence of their nation.

Now we have a new date - August 24, 1991. But without the important struggles for independence of 1917-1920 there would not have been the struggles by the OUN and UPA which lasted until the 1950s. And without these there would not have been the consequent independence movement, which was crowned by the official proclamation of independence on August 24, 1991, to which we were witness.

Therefore, in remembering the creators of the Ukrainian National Republic and the Fourth Universal, let us pay our respects with a moment of silence for all the sons and daughters of Ukraine who died in the battle for freedom.

On this 75th anniversary of the proclamation of the Ukrainian independent republic, let us remember the millions, the tens of millions of innocent Ukrainians who were murdered, and let us thank those who bravely continued the battle from 1918 to 1991 through prison and torture, through cold and hunger, and who passed the banner on to us to raise above the golden domes of Kyyiv and the whole world. May we not falter!

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