14 June 2004 22:09
Paper publishes "open letter" to Russians from Ukraine`s Viktor Yushchenko
A Russian newspaper has published "an open letter" from Ukrainian opposition leader and presidential
candidate Viktor Yushchenko. On the surface, it is a message of congratulations to the Russian people on Independence
Day, 12 June. In reality, the letter amounts to an appeal stressing the need for a clear strategy in bilateral relations
for the medium and long term, especially economic, an appeal "for extreme honesty and openness" in bilateral
ties. The following is the text of the open letter as published in the Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta on 11
June:
Esteemed Russian citizens!
Allow me to share with you my pride for the Russian people on this momentous day [Russian Independence Day, Saturday
12 June], which many supporters of Russian-Ukrainian friendship, among whose sincere adherents I rank myself, are
celebrating in Ukraine in conjunction with your country.
It is gratifying for us to see the successes that have been achieved by the renewed Russia and we are convinced that
this is the only way that real friends should feel.
I think that such admissions are nothing new for Russia. There have been many fine and correct words said of late
about prospects for our relations. There have been various opportunities for this, but it can be said on the whole that
assurances of friendship and affection for Russia have become a sign of good form in Ukrainian political circles.
However, the success of our cooperation is determined not by the number of hugs and kisses at the highest level or
even by the number of agreements and treaties signed. We need a clear-cut strategy for bilateral relations for the
medium and long term which presupposes a new algorithm for cooperation, the development of a fundamentally new nature of
economic relations. And this strategy must be based on clear coordination of national interests and analysis of our real
potential, primarily economic potential.
We need an "open-handed" policy of frank and responsible partnership which completely rules out innuendo,
even couched in fine, meaningless diplomatic terminology.
We have already had the Year of Ukraine in Russia. There has also been the Year of Russia in Ukraine. Why should this
year not be declared sincerity year? That would be particularly important in a Ukrainian presidential election year
[election takes place this October]. It is at this time that relations between our countries are in need of extreme
honesty and openness.
First and foremost, it is necessary to stop misleading Russian citizens - the upcoming elections in Ukraine are by no
means a choice between Russia and Europe, a battle between "pro-Western" and "pro-Russian" forces.
The crisis phenomena in Ukraine's national development can only be overcome by means of a real change in the
quality and style of domestic and foreign policy, leaving aside clan or corporate interests and giving precedence solely
to the interests of our countries' peoples. Ukrainian society is demonstrating an increasing readiness for this.
The elections represent the only possible chance for this.
Stability in Ukraine, in which representatives of the Russian political elite have repeatedly declared an interest,
is threatened not by the elections per se or by the inevitable change of regime. The threat of destabilization lies in
the ruling regime's desire to maintain its power at any price. We are worried by the incumbent Ukrainian
authorities' obtrusive attempts to involve Russia in resolving their personal problems and to make up for the lack
of public support by means of the "Putin resource" by taking advantage of the kind feelings that Ukrainians
traditionally harbour towards Russia and Russian citizens.
We advocate continuity in politics. At the same time, what is equally important for the state elite is an ability to
leave in the past certain habits and stereotypes that impede progress. The Russian regime has given us an important
lesson, having been able at a crucial stage in state organizational development clearly to separate long-term interests
and current instruments, abandoning outdated notions of the world and itself. Our peoples, acquiring in exchange
forward-looking ideas and progressive technologies, will take a far more confident view of the future if they join hands
and greet the challenges of the time together.
For this to happen it is necessary, in my view, to take several steps to accommodate one another.
Step one is to close and put on the shelf the gripping, tragedy-filled historic work entitled "The USSR is our
homeland".
Step two is to evaluate all the pledges, debts, treaties, overtures and complaints that have built up in our
diplomatic services' baggage over the past 10 years. Some of them may have already lost their significance and are
not worth the paper on which they are written. Let us dispose of ballast.
Step three is to clearly, without innuendo and ambiguity, to determine the format for our cooperation in the
political, economic and cultural spheres. Needless to say, this may also serve as the foundation for organizing lasting
multilateral relations.
Step four is to move on to specific action and joint decisions in all spheres of interstate relations. We include in
this primarily the formation of a free trade zone, mutual assistance for our countries' admission to the WTO, the
establishment of order on the borders and the abrogation and prevention in the future of any discriminatory measures in
respect of our two countries' citizens.
Dear Russian citizens!
It is no coincidence that I have chosen this day for my appeal. In my view, it is the ideals of freedom and
independence that constitute a common foundation which will help us to acquire mutual understanding and confidence in
one another. I am convinced that a real patriot of Russia will be able to respect only a patriotic regime in Ukraine.
And friendship without respect is just a fraud. I am convinced of the sincerity of our friendship.
Sincerely yours,
[Signed] Viktor Yushchenko
[Dated] Kiev, 11 June 2004
[Nezavisimaya Gazeta] |
RUSSIA IN FACTS
