ANALYSIS: Ukrainians apply for Romanian citizenship (01/07/01)

ANALYSIS

Ukrainians apply for Romanian citizenship

RFE/RL Poland, Belarus and Ukraine Report

KYIV - Kievskie Viedomosti recently reported that a growing number of Ukrainians are applying for Romanian citizenship in addition to their Ukrainian status. Romanian legislation allows dual citizenship, while Ukraine prohibits its citizens from holding citizenship from another country.

According to the November 7, 2000, issue of the Kyiv-based newspaper, there are rumors in Ukraine that Romania, by providing citizenship to Ukrainians, is conducting a policy of "creeping expansion" with the final aim of "reacquiring northern Bukovyna [Chernivtsi Oblast] and southern Besarabia [part of Odesa Oblast]," which belonged to the Romanian state before World War II.

Some Romanian parties, according to those rumors, are dreaming about restoring a "Great Romania" that would include Moldova and the above-mentioned parts of Ukraine. Some Ukrainian observers draw attention to the fact that 300,000 Moldovans (including 50 percent of Moldovan lawmakers) have already acquired Romanian citizenship.

The Romanian Embassy in Kyiv explained to Kievskie Viedomosti that, according to Romania's law on citizenship, Romanian citizenship may be granted to "former Romanian citizens who were deprived of it before December 22, 1989, for various reasons ... even in the event that they have a different citizenship and do not intend to move for permanent residence in Romania." The same rule applies to descendants of those "former Romanian citizens."

According to the newspaper, Ukrainians apply for Romanian passports primarily for economic reasons. "It is possible to obtain preferences for small businesses [by holding such passports]. Besides, Romania has a chance of entering the European Union sooner than Ukraine, and then the Romanian passport will become priceless, since it will open for its holder the way to all Europe," Kievskie Viedomosti wrote.

"But for what purpose does Romania need Ukrainian citizens?" the newspaper asked, without answering that rhetorical question.

Some Ukrainian officials shrug off fears about Romania's "creeping expansion" in Ukraine, arguing that the problem of the redivision of state frontiers in Europe no longer exists. But others suggest that the Helsinki Final Act does not rule out separate regions within countries holding referendums on joining one or another state.

Kievski Viedomosti wrote: "If Chernivtsi Oblast acquires a critical mass of Ukrainian-Romanian citizens, might they not decide on one beautiful day - let's say, on the day of Romania's accession to the EU - to become full-fledged participants of that holiday?"

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