Ukraine to Participate in EXPO-2000. Theoretically...

“198 days left, 197 days...”, this is how the Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper counts down the time remaining before the Hannover 2000 Exposition. That is what makes Hannover different from other cities in the world, where, of course, they count down how many days are left before the year 2000.

The first international exposition to demonstrate new achievements of mankind was held in London in 1851 and was attended by six million. From that moment on such world shows were organized twenty more times, with a record-breaking number of attendants, 64.2 million, registered in 1970 at Osaka. It was precisely at these shows that such wonders of engineering as, for instance, telephone or automobile were introduced to the world. And Paris erected its famous Eiffel Tower preparing to host guests from all over the world [in 1889].

For the first time in its century and a half history, EXPO will be held in Germany. The basic idea was that if people come to Han-nover, they could not only exchange new ideas, but also see unified Germany. Initially it was planned to hold the exposition in 1999, that is ten years after the reunification of Germany. However, the idea to gather people from the whole world at the turn of the millennium proved to be more attractive.

The capital of lower Saxony is itself living on expectations of EXPO. The city looks like a huge construction site: they want to do or change a host of things before the opening of the exposition on July 1 next year. Inside the city, something like an Olympic village is being raised: in the settlement of Kronsberg, 3000 new apartments for the EXPO personnel and guests are being built. The hosts expect that participants will represent 191 countries and organizations, and the number of visitors will total 40 million. EXPO press center chief Lampersbach told the exposition is expected to bring around DM 15 billion in revenues (an ordinary one-day ticket to the exposition will cost DM 69). However, profits are not an end in itself, he stressed.

The exhibition also envisions an extensive cultural program. It includes Faust, which will be staged using extraordinary effects, and the Scorpions will give a joint concert with the Berlin Philharmonic. The guests will have an opportunity to see masterpieces of the cinematography and much else.

Will EXPO 2000 be carried out the way Germany and Hannover would like? The willingness to provide funding was confirmed by fifty countries. The US does not rule out that due to the lack of sponsors’ contribution there will be no American pavilion. So far, the superpower has failed to raise the $40 million required for the construction of the pavilion. Lower Saxony Premier Gerhard Glogowski took this news with apprehension, saying that he cannot imagine a world exposition in Europe without US participation. The organizers of the Hannover show are trying to hush it up. EXPO 2000 press center consultant Nicholas Batten told The Daythat the American issue had not yet been exhausted, and the situation could turn around.

As for Ukraine, everything looks not bad, in theory. Last September Kyiv confirmed its participation, planning to represent two projects: Danube Delta Biological Variety and Wind Power in Lieu of Chornobyl. The former project provides for the protection of plants and animals in the Ukrainian section of the Danube delta, the natural habitat for a unique variety of flora and fauna.

The situation regarding the Ukrainian pavilion is not all that good. One could, however, still see some signs of life at the site allocated for the pavilion: machines and construction materials had been delivered, and workers were moving back and forth. However, as coordinator Andre Sarkany told The Day, until now Kyiv has presented no specific financial arrangement. The countries are supposed to determine themselves how much they can to invest in the construction of their pavilions. (For instance, the Netherlands will pay about DM 50 million for their pavilion, Hungary, DM 15 million, and poorer nations, DM 2.5 million). “At any rate, Kyiv should pay for the construction, we are not in a position to finance everything,” stressed Sarkany. According to him, a meeting with Ukrainian representatives set for November 26 may clarify the situation. One way or another, Kyiv, like other participants can present its projects without raising a pavilion. Especially because Ukraine, unlike the US, needs to advertise itself, either with or without it.