The “Declaration of three-2”
“While Ukrainians are discussing the thrown glass, the RF State Duma is trying to decide how to fight the Ukrainian identity, looking, so to say, for a scientific approach to liquidate the ‘Ukrainian project’...” — Roman Tsymbaliuk writes on his Facebook page.
Our original analysis of the conflict between Saakashvili and Avakov that happened at a meeting on reforms has confirmed (see pages 4 and 5). The approach to this analysis was the assertion that all this friction is secondary and is derived from the “abandoned” problems originating in the Kuchma era of the 1990s. And then, on December 15 a joint statement by President Poroshenko, Prime Minister Yatseniuk, and Speaker Hroisman comes put – the journalists and bloggers immediately compared it with the “declaration of three” of February 14, 2001 – by President Leonid Kuchma, Prime Minister Viktor Yushchenko, and Speaker Pliushch.
All day long on Tuesday the society has been awaiting for the response of senior government officials – mainly of the president – to the incident that occurred Monday night in his Administration. A day later a reaction finally came out. The heads of the country decided to do it together, not mentioning a concrete example of the said conflict. “Over the past year, the joint efforts of the president, parliament and the government managed to stop the aggressor,” says the first sentence of the statement. And it is a bit surprising, since the aggression has been stopped not only by the authorities, but also by the society, whose contribution was no less, and perhaps more.
In general, the declaration refers to the achievements and the path of government reforms which should not be stopped: the revival of the Ukrainian Armed Forces; the creation of an international coalition in support of Ukraine; the end of energy blackmail by Russia; the decentralization of power; the anti-corruption policy... That is, all the traditional set of words the authorities use about the modernization of the country. It is only that for some reason it never manages to improve the lives of citizens whatsoever. On the contrary, the citizens now feel the extreme frustration and distrust of politicians. The declaration is also open about the plans: the strengthening of the combat capability of Armed Forces; the amendments to tax legislation; the adoption of the Law “On State Budget of Ukraine for 2016”; the solutions to ensure the continued cooperation between Ukraine and the IMF; the completion of the constitutional amendments on decentralization; the Amendments to the Constitution in part of the judicial reform.
Photo by Oleh FEDONIUK
On February 13, 2001, when the “Ukraine without Kuchma” protest was unfolding in Ukraine, President Kuchma, Speaker Pliushch, and Prime Minister Yushchenko signed a joint statement. In it, they referred to the protesters as to Nazis. Apparently, it is how they demonstrated the unity of the government. Yushchenko even told of his parent-son relationship with Kuchma. But it did not help Viktor Yushchenko, as two months later he was sacked.
In February 2005, after the Orange Revolution, Poroshenko expected from Yushchenko the appointment to the prime minister post. But as it turned out, the latter had entered a secret pact with Tymoshenko. And Tymoshenko became the head of the government. After the 7-month-long leapfrog game in the authorities, both Tymoshenko and Poroshenko were dismissed.
In July 2006, when Tymoshenko led the negotiations with “Our Ukraine” and the Socialist Party about the coalition, and saw herself as the prime minister and Poroshenko as the Speaker, Moroz and Yanukovych went to the coalition instead. And again a trio – this time Yushchenko, Yanukovych, and Moroz publicly demonstrated unity, making early morning photos against the backdrop of the Presidential Administration.
December 15, 2015 – and it is Poroshenko now, deceived by Yushchenko in 2005, and by Moroz and Yanukovych in 2006, gives promises and signs them along with two other signatures – of Yatseniuk and Hroisman. And all this happens during the constant accusations of Yatseniuk’s corruption on behalf of the presidential team.
What do I want to say? All that Ukrainian politics is part of the Kuchma era. Its principle is to deceive and conquer. Say one thing and do otherwise. Promise the post of prime minister to different people at once and watch them fight. Deceive some and elevate others, not explaining the logic behind personnel decisions. Talk about unity and keep your fingers crossed. Deny any possibility of the prime minister’s resignation, while not prolonging the immunity of his government.
I think that Kuchma should be proud of his “children.”
