Joint textbook on absurd?

The idea of working out a Ukrainian-Russian history textbook is one of those that defy analysis; one of those projects that are lobbied for by those about whom there is the Ukrainian saying, “You chase him out through the door, only to find him stealing back through the window.” It has been proven on countless occasions (also in Den/The Day’s publications) that the whole idea is cynical, treacherous, and plain absurd. Nevertheless, the program of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s visit to Kyiv included a session with a joint Russian-Ukrainian subcommittee on social cooperation. It resulted in an official confirmation of project involving the development of “intergovernmental” textbooks on mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology (luckily, these disciplines are international by definition), and history (here the big question is that rejecting national history is tantamount to rejecting national identity).

In other words, this issue remains troubling. The Day offers two publications, a sharp-worded article by the political scientist, Pavel KOVALIOV, and an interview with Dr. Hennadii BORIAK, deputy director, National Academy’s Institute of Ukrainian History. This interview is especially interesting, considering that the Institute is directly involved in the development of school and university textbooks on Ukrainian history.

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