Kyiv celebrates independence with parades and concerts (09/01/96)

Kyiv celebrates independence with parades and concerts

by Marta Kolomayets
Kyiv Press Bureau

KYIV - President Leonid Kuchma emphasized Ukraine's shining future as one of Europe's leading nations and recalled its turbulent yet glorious past during a 70-minute celebratory address on Friday evening, August 23, marking the fifth anniversary of Ukraine's declaration of independence.

Ukraine's emerging role as a stable European player was further underscored on August 24, when Council of Europe Secretary-General Daniel Tarschys joined Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Hennadiy Udovenko in a flag-raising ceremony on European Plaza, the newly renamed Komsomol Square, located at the foot of the Khreshchatyk, Kyiv's central avenue.

A blue flag, adorned with a circle of gold stars - the banner of the Council of Europe, was raised next to the blue-and-yellow standard of Ukraine for the first time. Mr. Tarschys warmly greeted the small crowd of people gathered for the ceremony in front of the Ukrainian Home, which was formerly - ironically - the Lenin Museum.

"This flag flies all over Europe, and it is very good to see that it now flies in Kyiv. Let it be a symbol of the determination of the European people to work together to realize a pluralistic democracy, rule of law and respect for human rights," he said.

"Ukraine is now an equal partner in the Council of Europe," he added, explaining that it became a member in November 1995.

This was just one of the many highlights of August 23-26, when Ukrainians not only in Ukraine but throughout the world recalled the euphoria of August 24, 1991, when the Ukrainian Parliament declared Ukraine's independence.

An evening assembly - addressed by President Kuchma, Secretary-General Tarschys and United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Giorgio Giacomelli - at the recently renovated Ukraina Palace, followed by a jubilee concert on August 23, kicked off the weekend of festivities that included a military parade, outdoor concerts, arts and crafts shows, athletic events, and trade and commerce exhibitions.

Perhaps the biggest news marking the fifth anniversary of independence was the presidential decree signed on Sunday, August 25, announcing the introduction of Ukraine's new national currency, the hryvnia, which will make its debut on September 2.

Although the announcement was initially met with unease, government officials began an extensive public relations campaign to calm citizens, promising that they would not lose any money during the transition period from the karbovanets zone to the hryvnia market. [See story on page 1.]

A military parade, complete with 19 battalions and 4,000 Ukrainian servicemen, representing the army, navy, air force, national guard and border patrol, marched down the Khreshchatyk on Saturday morning, August 24, past a reviewing stand that included President Kuchma, commander in chief of Ukraine's armed forces; Prime Minister Pavlo Lazarenko, Parliament Chairman Oleksander Moroz, Minister of Defense Oleksander Kuzmuk, as well as such distinguished guests as Secretary-General Tarschys and Deputy Secretary-General Giacomelli, who is the director of the Vienna-based U.N. European Depart-ment.

"Our national armed forces are a model of loyalty to the country's national interests and historic and military traditions of the past generations," said Gen. Kuzmuk. "They know who and what they are to defend," he added, explaining that their motto is "For Ukraine and its freedom."

Other distinguished foreign guests celebrating Ukraine's fifth anniversary of independence included Malta's Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister Guido de Marco and Canada's Senate Speaker Gildas Molgat.

Despite the fact that it was void of military hardware, the 30-minute parade recalled Soviet-style celebrations and lacked the spirit and color of an American production, such as a small-town Fourth of July parade.

Ignoring the cloudy weather, thousands of people came out to view the parade and the various attractions prepared by the Kyiv City Council for this historic fifth anniversary. Many of them were visitors from the United States, Canada and Europe - representatives of the Ukrainian diaspora - from around the world, who were proud to be in Ukraine to help celebrate its fifth birthday.

They were not forgotten by President Kuchma, who, during his address on August 23, paid tribute to "our great predecessors," expressed gratitude to "our contemporaries, the statesmen and politicians who have done much to ensure Ukraine's independence," and voiced heartfelt thanks to "our brothers - Ukrainians worldwide, who supported Ukraine by word and deed, and dreamt of its resurrection."

A grand fireworks display on Saturday evening, August 24, was a colorful sight that lit up Kyiv's evening skies; simultaneous fireworks displays both in the city center and off of one of the mighty Dnipro's little isles were a captivating scene, enjoyed by Kyiv residents and guests alike.

On Sunday, August 25, parties continued not only in Kyiv but throughout Ukraine, in such cities as Poltava, Ivano-Frankivske and Sumy, and in towns and villages throughout Ukraine.

In Lviv, a bronze monument depicting Ukraine's history and crowned with a depiction of "Mother Ukraine" was unveiled next to the monument of Taras Shevchenko in the city center, at the site where the first meetings calling for Ukrainian independence were held in 1988.

Meanwhile, in the sometimes restive Crimean Autonomous Republic, the blue-and-yellow flag was hoisted atop the Parliament building in Symferopil, a first in modern Ukrainian history.

Even the Crimean Parliament, with its ethnic Russian majority, congratulated its residents on Ukraine's fifth year of independence.

"For Crimea, as well as for all of Ukraine, the past five years have been a period of difficult trials and hardships in every sphere of life. It took a great effort to overcome them and ensure further consolidation of healthy forces in society, attain constructive goals and secure a dignified way of life," read the message from the Crimean leaders.

On August 24, military units of the Sevastopil garrison marched in a parade devoted to Ukraine's fifth anniversary of independence. Troops were reviewed by Deputy Defense Minister Vice-Adm. Volodymyr Bezkorovayny. The commander of the military review was Deputy Navy Commander Rear Adm. Olexiy Ryzhenko.

In honor of Ukraine's independence, one of the squares in a Sevastopil bay was renamed Svoboda (Freedom) Square.

In Kyiv's Independence Square, various musical groups - pop, rock and folk artists who have made names for themselves in such festivals as Chervona Ruta - performed throughout the weekend. Singers and musicians from the Tavria Games festival, held in the Kherson region in July, also entertained the audiences on Saturday evening, August 24.

And, Kyiv's City Council suggested that the sole monument of Vladimir Lenin remaining in the capital city be removed, underscoring once again that there is no going back to the past for this five-year-old European state.