New Cabinet's program to promote Russian language, Single Economic Space (09/03/06)

New Cabinet's program to promote Russian language, Single Economic Space

by Zenon Zawada
Kyiv Press Bureau

KYIV - Friction in the still-unofficial National Unity Coalition emerged on August 30 when the Cabinet of Ministers indicated it would pursue granting the Russian language official state status.

Before the Cabinet's session, reporters received a press release outlining its main program of action through 2011.

"Consistent defense in the freedom of choosing the language of communication and education is the recognition of Russian as the second official language in Ukraine," read the program's excerpt.

When asked whether the statement conflicted with the Universal of National Unity which stipulates that Ukrainian is the only official language of Ukraine, First Vice Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said compromises would have to be sought.

"We will defend those principles that we defended during the election campaign," Mr. Azarov said, verifying the legitimacy of the press release.

"But we will defend them wisely, taking into account the position of our coalition partners, and taking into account the president's position. Don't worry. A compromise will be found and it will be wise," he added.

Mr. Azarov is a native of the Russian Federation who hasn't learned the Ukrainian language, unlike other Russian-born politicians, such as former Prime Minister Yurii Yekhanurov.

When asked to respond to the press release, Minister of Justice Roman Zvarych a close presidential ally, said he hadn't seen the document.

He reiterated that making Russian the second official language of Ukraine would violate the Ukrainian Constitution, which calls for Ukrainian to be the single official language.

Other points in the program of action caused unease among Ukraine's patriotic, pro-Western electorate.

The program made no mention of NATO or European Union integration.

Instead, the program calls for the commencement of work toward forming and strengthening the Moscow-centered Single Economic Space "as a cardinally important direction in realizing national interests and ensuring Ukraine's national security."

The Cabinet also challenged President Viktor Yushchenko by insisting on keeping the main base for ground military forces in Odesa rather than moving it to Lviv, as the president has ordered.

The Our Ukraine bloc has yet to officially join the parliamentary coalition government, which currently has as its members the Party of the Regions, the Socialist Party of Ukraine and the Communist Party of Ukraine.

Once the Verkhovna Rada begins work on September 5, it's expected that up to half of the Our Ukraine bloc's members will reject the coalition and will opt to join the opposition.

Some speculated that a dozen or so Our Ukraine national deputies will join the Tymoshenko Bloc.

Socialist Party leader Yosyp Vinskyi stated this week he will not join the coalition government and will lead a group of Socialists in the opposition.

The same day as the Cabinet's press release was issued, rumors swirled around Kyiv that the Cabinet had also voted to limit the president's powers in issuing orders, according to an article in the Russian-language Kommersant newspaper. It turned out the report was inaccurate, since the Cabinet of Ministers doesn't have the power to limit the president's authority, as clearly defined in the Constitution.

Other points in the Cabinet's program of action include reducing the shadow economy by lowering tax burdens, guaranteeing stable tax legislation and implementing a predictable tax policy.

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