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Yanukovich denies Russian the status of second official language
Published: 09 March, 2010, 18:40
Edited: 11 March, 2010, 19:52
TAGS: Conflict, Election, Meeting, Russia, Ukraine, Protest, Politics, Yushchenko, Human rights, Law, History, Yanukovich
Ukraine’s new president has announced that Ukrainian will remain as the official language in the country. Meanwhile, the country is set to “introduce the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages”.
Viktor Yanukovich made these statements during the Shevchenko Prize award ceremony in Kanev, Cherkassk region. According to the Ukranian president, awarding the Russian language with official status is a very difficult process that requires a change in the Constitution, which states that only Ukrainian is the official language of the country.
Several regions on the East and South of Ukraine, where most of the population speak Russian, said they would like to make Russian as the second official language in their territories. The President’s Party of Regions, however, sees a way out by implementing the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. “Taking the European Charter of Languages as a guide, we have prepared a very good law, which the President will present in the next 15-20 days. In that draft law, we give the regions certain rights [in relation to the Russian language]. If, in certain regions, they don’t want to implement that, then it’s up to them,” said Boris Kolesnikov, the deputy head of the Party of Regions.
The President has also stressed the importance of implementing the Charter. According to Yanukovich, his predecessor’s language policy in Ukraine “infringed upon the rights of Russian-speaking citizens and representatives of other nationalities” living in the country. “We need to correct that situation in the language policy, by implementing the European Charter for Regional of Minority Languages”, said Yanukovich.
However, that is not exactly how Yanukovich promised to solve that “infringement of the rights of the Russian-speaking population” previously. In September 2009, Viktor Yanukovich vowed to make Russian a second official language in the country if he were elected. The same promise was made during his recent meeting with the Russian President in Moscow.
Olga Masalkova, RT
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Wait and see. If russian language de facto (in fact, in all respects that matter) becomes equal and recognized, then it does not matter so much what happens de jure (in the law). Ukranian language will be just a ceremonial anachronism and most of the people will speak, write and learn russian. The best is of course if russian becomes second official language. Switzerland has three official languages, Finland two, Canada two, Belgium two and so on . Why not Ukraine?? If nothing at all happens then it is a big treason from the president against all his voters!
Smart move by Yanukovich who is correctly taking a pragmatic route to solve Ukraine's problems. What Ukranians need is stability and prosperity, therefore any moves that underpin stability, will allow focus to be placed on moving Ukraine forward in Economic terms, to deliver properity for the people. Here, Yanukovich is putting mechanisms in place to make sure Russian is not discriminated against. That is indeed what the Russian speakers want. He is even cleverly making it a European move, so no one can hardly complain from the pro EU lobby. So full marks to him on this one.This is smart politics, something that has been missing in Ukraine for a few coloured years.
Dear Count Cash, let me do not agree with you at this issue. He is confused and try to confuse others who keep watching his politics. I think, he should make a big step towards Russia in terms of making Customs Union along with Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus. This is his area of expertise and his strength. Only in this environment Ukraine can develop their unique national suzerainty. Like we have it in Canada with Quebec. Playing games with EU will suck his time and energy and will lead to deadlock. The idea is to grow within not borrowing money from EU and help them to grow. Prosperity within Customs Union is the only way to be strong country. To put it in simple language Ukraine will produce their goods sell it within Customs Union and buy another goods, energy again within the same Union to make strong currency and high quality goods. When you will make the money-goods cycle work you will get a privilage of having hard currency which will be interchangeable with $US, $Ca, british pound, and finaly Euro. But there is a little trick though. In order to get money-goods cycle work Customs Union must put big chunk of the profit into R@D after fear payroll payment. To buy all these goods people must have money which they ear only selling their skills and knowledge in the same money-goods cycle. Fear salary (for example, minimum salary should be 300 rubbles per hour) and research and development is a paramount which neither Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus do not understand and as consequences do not do. Sorry pal, Ukraine must be straight and fast before get into new trouble. Time is asset. Do not waste it by playing political games. Just make your main and do your job.