“Popularizing One’s Country is a Mission Every Ukrainian Should be Prepared to Carry out”
Larysa IVSHYNA: How do you think Ukraine could preserve its identity under the conditions of globalization?
KRYKAVSKY: It’s a very relevant issue for all countries. The most pressing issue for us is that, among other things, we have problems in terms of language policy. We should perhaps follow in the footsteps of civilized countries. I mean their support and protection of national values, as is the case with France, including the mother tongue and national culture, encouraging the family. I think it’s an example Ukraine should follow.
What Ukrainian values to you personally view as top priorities? I recently visited the Belgrade newspaper Politika (it’s a noted periodical and it marked its centennial not long ago). Its editor told me, “There is a Serbian saying: Our values are the Orthodox Church, the Crvena Zvezda [Red Star Soccer Club], and the newspaper Politika.” It was meant as joke, but there is a grain of truth in every joke; and so, if you were asked about Ukrainian values, what would you say?
KRYKAVSKY: I would say the Ukrainian language, our cultural traditions, and our people. You can always tell them apart, in any country, because they know their manners, they can dress with taste, for taste is our inborn quality.
Fine. You must, however, have heard about the Ukrainian international image being currently dampened; that all those political scandals over the past couple of years have not made it any more attractive. Does this not strike a discordant note with your concept of Ukraine? Wouldn’t you feel a bit uncomfortable as a representative of this country in Strasbourg, when communicating with people from other countries?
KRYKAVSKY: Let me give an interesting example. I was in a summer school in Austria last summer and I can tell you that people from other countries treat us with interest. Being discredited at the upper echelons of power does not always have a bearing on the citizenry. In most cases I could see that people from other countries were more or less well informed about what was happening in Ukraine. I made many friends in Austria simply because people were eager to learn more about Ukraine. Some of them showed a biased attitude at first, but after we made friends they’d no longer do so. They would be pleasantly surprised to learn that Ukrainians are very friendly. Generally speaking, I believe that popularizing one’s country is a mission every Ukrainian should be prepared to carry out. Friendly relationships with other countries are built at the personal level in the first place, meaning communicating with people from other countries on equal terms. This is what can provide first-hand knowledge about Ukraine elsewhere in the world, rather than any other data (including discrediting information) one finds in international media now and then .
It’s true that we have a number of problems, but it doesn’t mean that such problems should paralyze everybody. The younger generation stands a fair chance of making Ukraine a state conforming to their ideals. We are propagating the idea that Ukrainians meeting certain standards should join a nationwide movement for Ukraine’s individual EU membership. Even if it’s a token membership. If at least 70% of Ukrainian citizens become aware of the importance of this country’s NATO membership, if each and everyone feels prepared to meet the educational, cultural, everyday, and other requirements of being a member of a united Europe, we could perhaps discuss joining the European Union, couldn’t we?
KRYKAVSKY: I think so. When applying for participation in international programs, I draw the organizing committee’s attention to the fact that we have a certain critical mass of young citizens prepared and willing to integrate into Europe even now, who are, of course, eager to communicate with Europe. We don’t want to wait for the final political decision on Ukraine’s EU membership. After we become part of that community, it will be too late to find [any other] bearings. We want to learn more about Europe and for Europe to learn more about us now.
Don’t you think that Ukraine is not the only country to have lost much after staying behind the iron curtain for so many years; that Europe has also lost much with Ukraine being historically isolated from the process of forming a new Europe?
KRYKAVSKY: I certainly do, but I also believe that Europe is making a mistake; while admitting new countries to the Union, Europe appears to build another iron curtain. This means going back to past historical mistakes. One must learn lessons from history, and the same is true of Europe. Every [national] culture has its special features, just as learning other cultures serves to enrich one’s knowledge.
Meaning that the Europeans should be interested in Ukraine awakening?
KRYKAVSKY: Indeed. But I am concerned about alarming reports from EU commissioners, I mean their views on Ukraine’s role in geopolitics. One of them noted that it would be good to have Ukraine, Turkey, Moldova, and Belarus as buffer areas of sorts, so they would not succumb to Russia’s influence and would remain outside the European Union. The EU countries seem to want to have a buffer zone between themselves and other countries with backward economies. I think that Ukraine should view this approach critically. We must step up our efforts to integrate into Europe; if not, it will be too late afterward. Being left behind both spheres of influence is, I think, tantamount to being left in the backyard.
Do you think Ukraine could make its effort in that direction more conspicuous before the NATO summit in Istanbul?
KRYKAVSKY: Ukraine should come out with a clearly defined political decision, and there should be unequivocal public opinion on the matter. I don’t think that Ukraine is in a critical phase of its evolution, so much so we can’t discuss any specific matters in that respect. We are no worse than Romania, although that country is being admitted to the EU and NATO. EU countries, however, want to have a clear message from Ukraine. They want to make sure Ukraine is fully prepared.
As many other young people, you must be dissatisfied with what is happening in Ukraine. Do you place any hopes in the opposition in its current status? Do you think that our opposition is faced with about the same problems as the powers that be are?
KRYKAVSKY: Opposition is needed in any country in the first place, because it always keeps the powers that be...
In the right shape?
KRYKAVSKY: Yes, but those in power likewise have to keep track of the opposition, taking into account its shortcomings and making them public knowledge, so the public is prepared for changes that may occur if the opposition comes to power. In other words, there must be reciprocal control. Eulogizing one side and condemning the other is wrong. One mustn’t go to excess, either way.
