Tarasyuk says sacking of Cabinet was process of political 'catharsis' (10/02/05)

Tarasyuk says sacking of Cabinet was process of political 'catharsis'

by Andrew Nynka

NEW YORK - Nearly two weeks after President Viktor Yushchenko sacked his Cabinet, Ukraine's top diplomat said the country was stable and undergoing a democratic process akin to political "catharsis."

The change in the government, made by Mr. Yushchenko on September 8, has not destabilized Ukraine, acting Foreign Affairs Minister Borys Tarasyuk said. Rather, the move is part of a process of "self-cleaning of authorities," and an effort to "return to the ideals and principles of the 'maidan,'" the foreign minister said, referring to Kyiv's Independence Square, the focal point of the Orange Revolution.

Those ideals and principles largely revolve around rooting out corruption and reforming Ukraine so that it is more in line with Western European standards of democracy, he explained.

In that regard, Ukraine is not lacking in strategies, Mr. Tarasyuk said. "We have a lot of strategies. We sometimes are lacking consistency in implementing those strategies."

Moreover, the "economy, the fiscal and monetary systems and the stock exchange don't mind these events and continue to run smoothly," Mr. Tarasyuk said during a speech at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs on September 21. The economy, he added, had slowed throughout all of Europe.

While Mr. Tarasyuk's comments painted an optimistic picture of the situation in Ukraine, experts and analysts who focus their work on Ukraine characterized it in more uncertain terms.

"I hope that President Yushchenko is able to take advantage of the political crises in Kyiv to put Ukraine back on the track to democracy, justice and the dignity that the Orange Revolution demanded this past winter," said Mark von Hagen, the Boris Bakhmeteff Professor of Russian and East European Studies at Columbia University.

Indeed, Prof. von Hagen, who is president of the International Association of Ukrainian Studies, said that Mr. Yushchenko could now fall back on the path taken by his predecessor, Leonid Kuchma, or complete the reforms sought by Ukrainians during the Orange Revolution.

"If he chooses, however, to fall back on old ways and once again make deals with oligarchs, husbands and wives of oligarchs, then he stands to lose the unexpected second chance that history has given him and he will leave office perceived as Kuchma-like, in its most generous," Prof. von Hagen said.

Mr. Tarasyuk directly addressed expectations of Ukraine in the aftermath of the Orange Revolution.

"Today, some people in Ukraine and beyond claim that its color is fading out, especially with the recent resignation of the government," he said. "Allow me to disagree with this opinion."

The acting foreign minister said that any allegation of corruption or abuse of power would be investigated and, if need be, those charged would face prosecution and the courts.

Mr. Yushchenko's administration has begun to face growing criticism while members of his inner circle have faced allegations of corruption. Additionally, analysts noted the irony of the president's recent political pact with his one-time foe and former presidential candidate Viktor Yanukovych, Mr. Kuchma's chosen successor.

But Mr. Tarasyuk made it clear that there were distinctions between the two presidential administrations. "A major difference is that we mean what we say. It is called credibility in politics," the acting foreign minister said.

Mr. Tarasyuk, who was minister of foreign affairs in 1998-2000 under Mr. Kuchma, said that on the face of it there have been no changes in Ukraine's foreign policy since Mr. Yushchenko's administration came to power.

"Membership in the European Union and NATO, developing friendly relations with Russia and other neighbors, and an active regional policy have been and continue to stand out at the front line," Mr. Tarasyuk said. "That is the sign of the stability and consistency of the foreign policy of Ukraine."

He listed democracy, stability and development as the three basic prerequisites for a mature government and a vibrant civil society. During his speech Mr. Tarasyuk stressed that two of the three - democracy and stability - have already taken root in Ukraine.

Democracy - and especially its basic ingredients, both freedom of expression and assembly - has become the undeniable asset of all Ukrainians, Mr. Tarasyuk said.

With regard to development, Ukraine will expand small- and medium-sized businesses in the coming years and will look to further liberalize markets, Mr. Tarasyuk said.

As a further sign of progress, Mr. Tarasyuk noted that Ukraine, "for the first time, contemplates extending financial and technical assistance to other countries by establishing an agency for technical assistance." He said that the Ruslan, the Ukrainian Antonov-124 heavy-lift aircraft, delivered "rather modest" humanitarian cargo to Little Rock, Ark., on September 20 at the expense of the Ukrainian government.

"The very fact of [Ukraine's] transformation from a recipient country into a donor country may have a significant positive impact on our foreign policy," Mr. Tarasyuk said.

The acting foreign minister noted that in 14 years of independence Ukraine's foreign service still faces the same problems: a lack of finances and personnel. In perhaps one of the lighter moments of his speech, Mr. Tarasyuk invited the audience of about 70 people to contribute to the foreign service. "But I would like to say that the salary is very, very modest," he said to laughter.

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