George Bush Sr.’s call to improve democracy

Last Friday George Bush, the 41st US president, ended his two-day trip to Kyiv. Although this was a private visit, the level of meetings (with President Leonid Kuchma and Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, among others) and the number of hints dropped about Ukraine’s further development indicate the paramount importance of this visit by the father of the current White House president. “Ukraine is aware of the importance of this visit because it is you who recognized us and laid the groundwork for the relations that eventually led to a strategic partnership,” Pres. Kuchma told the former US president. Mr. Bush also met with Ukrainian opposition leaders Viktor Yushchenko, Yuliya Tymoshenko, and Oleksandr Moroz.

Ukrainians harbor mixed feelings about George Bush Sr. Most remember the then US president’s speech on 1 August 1991 in Kyiv, when he pledged unflagging support for the USSR’s central leadership and cautioned the Soviet republics against making rash decisions, which was interpreted as a call to drop aspirations for independence. The common perception is that his visit was aimed, among other things, at correcting the now obsolete interpretation of the statement he made long ago. It is quite possible that the 41st US president wanted to re- define his image in the history of US-Ukrainian relations. The first part of Mr. Bush’s speech at Taras Shevchenko National University was precisely an attempt to amend his thirteen-year-old statement. He emphasized, in particular, that his 1991 speech stressed the necessity of “expanding the boundaries of freedom” rather than the desirability or undesirability of independence for the Soviet republics. “The US has always welcome reformers who are moving toward a new world order,” Mr. Bush noted. On the other hand, the ex-president admitted that no one in Washington expected the abortive August coup in Moscow or the ensuing independence of the USSR’s republics. He also recalled his September 1991 meeting with Leonid Kravchuk in Washington and the telephone call from Bela Vezha Forest, during which Boris Yeltsin informed him about the collapse of the USSR and the formation of the CIS. “Those were really dramatic days,” the former US leader reminisced. “Some may say this was a foregone conclusion, but this is not true,” he noted, stressing that the new countries faced the menace of bloodshed or seizure of power by unpredictable leaders. Mr. Bush called Ukraine’s achievement of independence a “peaceful revolution” in sharp contrast to the events of 1917.

After reviewing past events, Mr. Bush switched to current problems. First of all, he noted the striking changes that have taken place in Kyiv over the past thirteen years. Recalling the words of some skeptics that Ukrainian independence would be a short-term affair, Mr. Bush declared, “Today your independence is stronger than ever before.” He pointed out that Ukrainians are beginning to experience the fruits of economic reforms. Mr. Bush also made note of Kyiv’s foreign political goals to join NATO, EU, and WTO. “These are interesting and mature ambitions. I wish you success!” said the Oval Office’s former occupant. He also expressed sincere appreciation for the contribution of Ukrainian servicemen to the postwar stabilization of Iraq, noting that the current US president, George Bush Jr., is very grateful for this support. “We must give Ukraine its due: it did not stay on the sidelines when the shadow of a new evil, the evil of terrorism, fell upon the world. I know the way President Bush appreciates Ukraine’s contribution.”

The next message of the 41st US president concerned the elections in Ukraine. The former American leader approached this subject in a roundabout way by recalling his own participation in the 1992 presidential elections, when he lost to Bill Clinton.

This part of his speech dealt with the style and school of high politics and the experience of a civilized transfer of power. “It is never easy to lose an election, because you feel that you have let down a lot of people,” said the distinguished guest, reminding the audience that the US press was on his rival’s side. Mr. Bush stressed that although he did not agree with reports in the mass media, which were biased in his opinion, he viewed them as the achievements of a free society. “I have always championed the press, but now I revel in being free of the press,” said Mr. Bush, emphasizing, “You have to have respect for the electoral process.” By way of illustration, he recalled Democratic candidate Albert Gore’s defeat in the 2000 elections. Mr. Bush Sr. said that when the final results were announced, he phoned his son’s rival. “I knew how hard it was to lose,” the ex-president said. In his words, a free and democratic election in Ukraine will be of vital importance for strengthening this country’s relations with the West. Mr. Bush expressed hope that those running for the highest office “will be guided by the interests of the state rather than their own interests.” “If Ukraine goes this way, I do not doubt that a brilliant future awaits it,” he said in conclusion.

It is also worth mentioning that none of the many questions addressed to George Bush was about Russia. This may be sheer coincidence, or perhaps we are learning and have already learned, to some extent, to live without the “big- brother syndrome.” The impeccable gentleman George Bush Sr. has gone home. Let us say in conclusion that the thirteen years that have lapsed since his first visit have brought about drastic changes not only in Ukraine but also in the key points of his reasoning. Presumably, Ukraine’s attitude to the 41st US president has also changed.