Politicians comment on Ukraine's achievements over the past decade (08/26/01)

Politicians comment on Ukraine's achievements over the past decade

by Roman Woronowycz
Kyiv Press Bureau

KYIV - If you asked well over a dozen politicians what they think is the greatest achievement of 10 years of Ukrainian independence, you would think the replies would be varied, accenting various nuances in the political, economic and cultural revival of the nation and the state over the last decade.

But the politicians that were approached gave answers that were uncannily similar, giving us pause to wonder at times during our interviews whether some giant prank was not being played and whether we were not the butt of the joke. We persisted, however, although we realized the answer was an obvious one. We believed the question was still worth asking because it gave us an insight into how the political leaders view that which has transpired over the last decade in this country.

The Ukrainian politicians that The Weekly questioned come from various points on the Ukrainian political horizon and have either been near the top of the political echelon in Kyiv in the last decade or were closely involved with the dramatic changes that took place as the Soviet Union collapsed onto itself in the dog days of August 1991.

The answer provided by Ivan Drach, a leader of the Popular Rukh organization in the years just before and after independence, who today is head of the State Committee on Radio and Television, typified what the others said.

"The biggest accomplishment? That the country has survived these 10 years. That is it. What else can there be?" explained Mr. Drach.

The response, although less than enthusiastic and optimistic, nonetheless succinctly explains an incontrovertible fact: State independence is in and of itself by far the most important achievement for a Ukrainian nation that suffered over 300 years of imperial hegemony, according to the politicians we queried. Everything else is secondary and simply follows logically from that which happened first.

Mr. Drach's response did, however, add a certain nuance as well: that there has been very little that has happened in the last 10 years that is worth celebrating. That, however, is simply one man's opinion, although in our survey others would have agreed, and did.

In many of the answers, the politicians attempted to mention at least some positive event in the last ten years. National Deputy Les Taniuk, the former stage director who was part of the Rukh movement from the start, did just that and unwittingly also expounded a bit on Mr. Drach's terse reply a day later at a press conference of both Rukh Parties:

"The main achievement was the end of the empire - the end of the Soviet Union. It was an achievement propelled by a desire for independence primarily on the part of Ukraine, the Baltic States and Georgia. It was a monumental historical moment."

"The second one is that Ukraine appeared on the European map not through violent overthrow but by a vote, a national referendum. And when we began to analyze that vote we saw that while more than 90 percent of ethnic Ukrainians voted for independence, 80 percent of ethnic Russians living in Ukraine did as well. And Jews were at about 90 percent in support, while Tatar support came out to some 96 percent. It turned out that not only did Ukrainians want out [of the Soviet Union], but Jews, Tatars, Russians and Germans did too."

Leonid Kravchuk, the ever-loquacious first president of Ukraine, who can be considered one of Ukraine's few elder statesmen (and plays the role to the hilt), said that the minutiae are unimportant, the simple fact of independence is the essence and any criticism of the last ten years is counterproductive.

We caught up with him in the Verkhovna Rada Building reflecting upon a newly hung mural in the area outside the session hall, which in a highly stylized manner depicts the Parliament members on the day independence was declared with Mr. Kravchuk at the center of the action and the ghost of Mykhaylo Hrushevsky, president of the first Ukrainian republic of 1918, watching from the sidelines.

"There is a country called Ukraine, and that is all that is important," stated Mr. Kravchuk before the beginning of the jubilee 10th anniversary session of the Verkhovna Rada on August 21.

"We can discuss the details and debate the negatives and positives, but nobody can disagree today with the fact that Ukraine is a country found on the map of the world, a European country. Furthermore, in 10 years we have had the good fortune to have avoided foreign conflict and domestic strife. But I repeat here, the most important element remains that Ukraine exists."

Others had to criticize something, even while they too agreed that the fact of independence remains the essential accomplishment. Maybe it is in their nature. One such politician was Taras Chornovil, son of Vyacheslav, the late, great leader of the Rukh Party. Today the young Mr. Chornovil is a Parliament member and a leader of the anti-Kuchma opposition movement. "I would say the biggest achievement is the basic fact of independence, but I do not believe the independence we gained has been developed properly these past 10 years," explained Mr. Chornovil.

Also criticizing the path the country has taken since independence was Stepan Khmara, Mr. Chornovil's cohort in the opposition movement. Mr. Khmara was a leading activist in the move towards independence in the turbulent days leading up to August 1991 and continued to be a voice in the wilderness against the former Communist Party nomenklatura as it changed its stripes to a more 'democratic' color after the system was debunked. In 1996 he was voted out of office.

"The positive aspect is that the international community de jure has recognized Ukraine as an independent state for 10 years. This has huge historical implication," explained Mr. Khmara, who then went on to paraphrase his oppositionist colleague:

"But independence needs to be filled with content. Much still needs to be done so that Ukraine gets that leadership which will make it what it deserves to be."

Levko Lukianenko, another partner in arms in the opposition movement who vehemently criticized President Leonid Kuchma on August 18 after storming the stage at the Third World Forum of Ukrainians (see front page story), was much more reserved in his remarks to The Weekly.

"The main thing is that Ukraine has established itself legally. It has also accomplished many things: it created a government system, a court system, a legislative system and a Constitutional Court," explained Mr. Lukianenko with little malice apparently remaining from his diatribe of a few days past.

There is a much longer standing opposition force in Ukraine as well - the Communist Party. In an effort to convey balance and accuracy, we felt compelled to include a few of the hammer and sickle types in our survey too. So we went to the top of the heap and asked Petro Symonenko, chairman of the Communist Party of Ukraine. He had to find something to criticize, of course, and he did.

"Of course there are achievements," explained Mr. Symonenko unexpectedly optimistic, before explaining where he was going.

"The gross domestic product has fallen by two times. The number of heads of cattle on Ukrainian farms has fallen by two-thirds. Industrial output is down by 15 percent to 20 percent. The average pay for a worker is $50 U.S. and for a pensioner a whopping $20 per month. Our government is considered the most corrupt in Europe and the world. These are unique achievements that we should be proud of as we move toward Europe," explained Mr. Symonenko.

While the head Ukrainian communist found much in Ukraine's economic situation to belittle, other leaders on the Ukrainian political scene, including those who have had a major hand in reforming it and redirecting it towards open markets, were somewhat less severe in their assessments and much more optimistic about the future.

Yuri Yekhanurov, first vice prime minister in the government of Viktor Yuschenko and a prime architect of the reforms and stimuli that brought Ukraine's economic engine back to life last year said a major achievement is the rekindling of the economy.

"The fact that we have overcome the economic crisis is important, as well as the fact that we are experiencing growth for the second year running," explained Mr. Yekhanurov. "The quality of life has risen a bit, and I think the worst is over."

While he praised the economic turnaround he helped stimulate, he only put it in second place on his list of major accomplishments. The primary achievement he identified? The fact of independence, of course.

His former boss, Viktor Yuschenko, did not sway from what had been for all practical purpose not merely the political line, but the only line. What he spelled out in addition, which none of the other politicians managed, was some recognition that the people had good reason to be downbeat and asked them to be patient.

"The most important is that Ukraine is a country on the map of the world. It is a known entity. I understand the pessimism that is evident in the country. But remember, ten years is absolutely a kid's age. It is a young country," explained the former prime minister. "That does not mean, however, that the leadership can use that as an excuse for certain failures. On the other hand a lot has been accomplished. It is just that a lot still needs to be done."

Finally, there was Bohdan Hawrylyshyn, an economist who has ties to the Paris Club and was the director of the George Soros-sponsored Renaissance Foundation for a number of years. He is also the president of the International Management Institute in Kyiv. While Mr. Hawrylyshyn is not a Ukrainian politician, he has been so close to the seat of power in Ukraine, as an advisor to the president and the Verkhovna Rada, and in other posts, that when we saw him during the opening of the Third World Forum of Ukrainians, we had to ask him what his thoughts were.

He did not fail us in keeping to the script. His first words in reply to the question: "The fact of Ukrainian independence and that it was sustained."

He also had good things to say about the Ukrainian economy, including this pretty assessment: "If the economic growth continues for a couple of years, [Ukraine] will be called the economic miracle of Europe," said Mr. Hawrylyshyn.

Liuda Liulko of the Kyiv Press Bureau contributed to this story.

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