Turning the pages back... August 26, 2001 (08/27/06)

Turning the pages back...

August 26, 2001

On the 10th anniversary of Ukraine's independence, The Weekly printed an article offering the perspectives of university students in Kyiv and what the celebration meant for them. They had watched the country struggle to overcome economic malaise and the development of a democratic civil society based on the rule of law from the beginning of independence on August 24, 1991.

The questions asked of each participant were: "What are your impressions of 10 years of independence in general? What specific incident or event over the last 10 years sticks in your mind?"

Volodymyr Havrylov, a student at the National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy, responded that independence is a process and the progression has been positive, natural and logical. His lasting impression from independence was the large masses of people who wanted independence and had the spiritual uplift to see the task to completion. He attributed this to their romantic expectations, and the disheartening everyday drudgery.

Olena Khazinova, from the National University of Culture and the Arts, felt that independence was better for Ukraine than belonging to the USSR, but she commented that Ukraine is too dependent on Russia and other countries. Her most vivid memory was the rebuilding of Kyiv, its reconstruction and the demolition of Soviet-era monuments that was going on at the time.

Petro Horshkov, a student at the National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy, expressed his positive attitude toward independence, but he complained of the wasted opportunities and the lack of restructuring in the Ukrainian government. He said, "When the same people hold the same position, only having changed their stripes, nothing can or will get better." His most vivid impression was the reconstruction going on in Kyiv and the presidential elections, but he was unsure which was of greater importance, since the elections did not change anything.

Mykhailo Lukashuk, of the Kyiv National Avionics University, said that independence has been good for Ukraine. The long road to independence was difficult he said, adding that problems are normal. He commented on the economic growth that Ukraine was experiencing, saying that independence has been good since people have money in their pockets.

Anastasia Makeyeva, a student from Dnipropetrovsk studying at the National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy, said that her lasting impressions since independence were President Bill Clinton's trip to Ukraine, the visit by Pope John Paul II and the visit by rock musician Sting. Each represented a facet of society: culture, religion and politics. Independence allowed for these progressive people to come to Ukraine and it reflected the much-liberalized mindset of society, she said. Before independence was achieved, she too had idealized visions, Ms. Makeyeva said. But being from the eastern oblasts, where there tends to be more cynicism, she saw the changes going on in Kyiv and, regardless of the current problems, said it was a good start.

Source: "Kyiv students provide perspective on Ukrainian independence," by Iryna Lawrin and Liuda Liulko, The Ukrainian Weekly, August 26, 2001, Vol. LXIV, No. 34.

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