Turning the pages back... December 2, 1991 (12/01/02)

Turning the pages back...

December 2, 1991

Eleven years ago, on December 2, 1991, the U.S. government issued a statement on Ukraine's independence referendum, in which more than 90 percent of voters approved the August 24, 1991, declaration of Ukraine's independence. The statement did not recognize Ukraine, as did Poland and Canada - the first two countries to do so. In fact, the administration of George Bush went out of its way to express support for Russian President Boris Yeltsin and Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev. U.S. recognition came more than three weeks later, on December 25, only after Mr. Gorbachev had resigned.

White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater delivered the official reaction to Ukraine's vote for independence, excerpts of which appear below.

"Yesterday, in a free and fair vote, the people of Ukraine voted for independence. The United States welcomes this expression of democracy which is a tribute to the spirit of the Ukrainian people. The president would also like to congratulate Leonid Kravchuk on his apparent victory in Ukraine's first free presidential election. Yesterday's referendum and election were also a tribute to the defeat of the coup in which Boris Yeltsin played such a pivotal role and a positive development for the New Europe.

"For its part, the United States looks forward to the kind of normal relationship with Ukraine that one would expect it to have with a democratizing country. Ukraine's aspiration to join the Euro-Atlantic community is striking testimony to the will for liberty in a nation which has persisted and survived despite the terrible calamities of the 20th century.

"In developing this relationship, we also intend to continue our cooperation with President Mikhail Gorbachev and his government and to strengthen our expanding ties with President Yeltsin and the Russian government as well as the other republics.

"We are aware that independence raises some complex issues to be resolved among Russia, Ukraine and the center. The establishment of a new cooperative relationship between Russia and Ukraine, based on openness and mutual respect, will be a test of whether they are capable of making the transition to democratic societies which respect the rights of individuals. ... The president has instructed the secretary of state to dispatch a special emissary ... to discuss with the newly elected authorities in Kiev our future relationships with Ukraine..."

"As the people of Ukraine, Russia and the other republics continue peacefully and democratically to pursue the hard work of freedom, the president supports them in their work and wishes them peace and prosperity."

Source: "White House reacts to referendum" and "Canada recognizes Ukraine," The Ukrainian Weekly, December 8, 1991, Vol. LIX, No. 49.

| Home Page |