Rovshan TAGIYEV: “Our task is to secure the rear of the country”

The presentation took place in the metropolitan five-star Hyatt Hotel. The organization level was high as well as the guests. For example, the event was attended by the first Ukrainian president Leonid Kravchuk, MP Oles Donii, the representatives of the government, NGOs, national minorities, and foreign guests. The participants tried not to speak about the problems, though, it was impossible to avoid them. The organizers of the assembly set ambitious tasks and goals. However, the unofficial rumors had it that it is not improbable that the Assembly was launched with the assistance of the government for the future presidential elections. The Day spoke to the head of the Assembly of Nationalities of Ukraine Rovshan TAGIYEV:

“I think all the opinions of the people who spoke during the presentation should not be rejected. The comments made by today’s speakers will be reflected in our program. The essential is that we have seen that the people feel like working together to unite different nationalities of Ukraine in order to solve our problems.

“We want to secure the adoption of the law ‘On the national policy of Ukraine’ that has been stalled for 23 years. We will insist that the authorities pay attention to the Ukrainian people’s opinion. Sometimes the officials are incompetent and do not perform their functions duly. We have to dialog with the authorities and solve our problems, contribute to the development and strengthening of the solidarity between the nationalities.”

Do you think it is possible to unite different communities into one Assembly? Every national minority might hog the blanket and think about their interests.

“I do not set the task to unite everybody into one Assembly. Our task is to create the conditions to make every interested participant of the social life in Ukraine want to unite. With our consecutive work we will show that we have to love this country, respect its laws, learn its culture and language.”

Have you mastered the Ukrainian language?

“I speak Ukrainian [switching to Ukrainian. – Author]. I have two daughters who study in the Ukrainian gymnasium. It is logical that the Ukrainian language should dominate in Ukraine. It is similar to having the state boarders, the national currency, etc. We set the task to organize courses of Ukrainian for national minorities.

“Our task is to secure the rear of Ukraine using the relations with diasporas from other countries. By the way, the Assembly of the World Diasporas, registered in the US was initiated by us, the citizens of Ukraine. Famous Hollywood actors, politicians, public figures and businesspeople have already expressed their willingness to enter it. It is going to be a serious non-governmental site used for expressing the opinions and positions of all the nationalities of the world.”

Except for the reasons to launch the Assembly declared at the presentation, they also speculate about other reasons: lobbying the organizers’ interests, controlling the national communities of Ukraine and presidential elections of 2015. How can you comment on it?

“I do not know a single successful person about whom other people say only positive things. I am a self-sufficient person that is why only psychologically unhealthy people want to compensate their flaws by making inadequate declarations. I have been in the social movement for 25 years. People know what I do. What I am doing today is a logical continuation of my activity.”

What are the mechanisms to solve the problems you declare in Ukraine?

“The mechanisms should start within our Assembly. We have to take the initiative, gather, actively work and involve competent people. We will create initiative groups, put forward our suggestions to the legislative and executive powers to make them consider our opinion.”

What kind of interethnic problems existing in Ukraine you are going to deal with?

“Of course, problems exist. From time to time there are displays of xenophobic moods. Only by putting common efforts we will be able to stamp out drawbacks in our society. I think the problems are also related with the need to raise the social level of our people.”

Today there is a range of organizations uniting national communities. Why is another one needed? How is it going to be different?

“If someone has a goal to create favorable living conditions for all the nationalities in Ukraine, I am in favor of such work. I even have already suggested organizing common events. Our assembly is open for all the nationalities and citizens of Ukraine.”