A step backward?

In 2004 quite a few people believed that Ukraine would join NATO before too long. Some reputed experts predicted that it could happen in 2008. Nor were there any doubts that the OUN-UPA officers and soldiers would receive the status of war veterans. Today these topics are shamefacedly avoided and carefully referred to as “humanitarian issues”: with the crisis in the country, the Ukrainian in the street is concerned only about his daily bread. Forget about NATO and the UPA!

Ukraine’s partners in the West are also pessimistic. US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said in Krakow several weeks ago that Ukraine’s road to NATO will be a long one.

Translated from the diplomatic language, does this mean that they have given up on us and let Russia have its way with us? Do they think that there is no use putting forth efforts and persuading someone when no one here is doing anything anyway? Moreover, there are increasingly stronger US-NATO-Moscow reconciliation signals and the NATO summit of foreign ministers will consider the possibility of renewing an extensive dialog with Moscow on March 5.

Zbigniew Brzezinski, a US expert on geopolitics, said in Krakow that his assessments of Ukraine are pessimistic and that such misgivings are absolutely justifiable. After all, he added, it is hard to take an active part in Ukraine’s future considering that Ukrainians cannot agree among themselves and protect their independence.

Whereas the NATO membership fiasco can be somehow attributed to the external factor, the issue of the OUN-UPA veterans is a purely domestic affair. Since 2004 the Verkhovna Rada has had countless opportunities to pass the bill recognizing the OUN-UPA soldiers and officers as those who fought for Ukraine’s independence and to grant them the status of war veterans. It never happened because they were afraid to pass this bill, fearing either the militant local Ukrainophobes or the Kremlin.

Now everybody seems to have conveniently forgotten all about this question. The rollback process continues with politicians keeping clear of such “hazardous” topics.

Not so long ago, Arsenii Yatseniuk, the leader of the Front of Change, regretfully admitted in Lviv that the bill recognizing the OUN-UPA men as war veterans is, for the time being, impossible to pass. He added, quite reasonably, that a part of Ukraine’s 46-million population is still “under the influence of what was called Soviet propaganda; these people are simply not prepared to accept such a law… We mustn’t give occasion to any external forces or allow those who want to split Ukrainian society push us around. Give the state some time and let historians do their work.”

Yatseniuk’s stand in the matter is perfectly understandable: it is much easier and safer to follow public sentiments. In talk shows on Inter and other TV channels, Yatseniuk has been winning over part of Tymoshenko’s and Yanukovych’s electorate. He takes humble pride in the fact that within one day 12,000 hryvnias were transferred to the bank account of his Front of Change from cell phones.

It looks as though now is the time of pragmatists. Keeping proportions is very important here. The bad news is that pragmatists are not born to lead the masses, for this is the province of ideologically guided people.

COMMENTARIES

Yevhen HOLOVAKHA, deputy director, Institute of Sociology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine:

“This is a rather complex subject. The only thing that could be postponed — in time of crisis, at least — is solving political problems. Needless to say, our society doesn’t need additional confrontations. There is high tension within Ukrainian society even now. Arsenii Yatseniuk, therefore, is using common sense.

“When will it be possible to pass the bill recognizing the OUN-UPA men as war veterans? One has to study international practice. Spain seems to be the best example with its experience of confrontation between Francoists and Republicans. We will need to see what would be best to borrow and what to reject. Let the politicians determine the period of time when no political problems will be addressed. After it is over, everyone will have to be prepared to make decisions. Meanwhile, the public should be given information.”

Taras STETSKIV, MP, NU-NS faction:

“For 18 years we have been hearing from various politicians about how it is not possible to pass the bill recognizing the OUN-UPA men as people who fought for Ukraine’s independence and to grant them the status of war veterans. The coalition can vote for this bill if it has the political will. Moreover, this clause was included in the coalition agreement signed by BYuT, Our Ukraine, and the Lytvyn Bloc. Later, on the demand of the Lytvyn Bloc, its formulation was made vaguer.

“Apparently, many people will describe 2009 as anything but the best year for passing this bill. I believe, however, that the coming presidential elections cannot be used as an argument against making this decision. In fact, it would suffice to publish the findings of the cabinet-appointed commission that were made five years ago, concerning the historical role of the OUN-UPA in the struggle for Ukraine’s independence. We’ll need to print enough copies and show several documentaries — then everything will become crystal clear. Parliament is supposed to be the political elite of society; it must keep one step ahead and disregard historical stereotypes and ideological dogmas. I think that Arsenii Yatseniuk’s statements conceal his reluctance to confront those regions of Ukraine that, due to some or other reasons, remain zombified by the Soviet and pro-Russian propaganda.”