By Viktor ZAMYATIN, The Day
By far the only tangible foreign-policy success of Ukraine in the last
year was that such prospective European Union members as Poland, Hungary,
and the Czech Republic have not yet imposed strict visa regulations despite
EU pressure. Thus, we can so far go to those countries relatively freely,
either to see how one ought to live or do some small-time business.
With each passing year, Ukraine is distancing herself from the process
referred to as European unification, and through its own fault. It is being
felt even today that, for instance, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary
are losing serious interest in cooperation, orienting their foreign policy
and trade towards Germany, France, and Austria.
Even now the "old democracies" of Europe, which really believed in Ukrainian
reforms and prosperity back in 1991, are feeling disappointed. Even now
it shows that neither the IMF nor the World Bank believe in Ukraine's ability
to reach the level of today's Poland and the Baltic states.
On the other hand, it is not only Ukraine's Left that all too often
demand what amounts to a new annexation of this country by Russia, be it
via the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, CIS supranational bodies, or military
and political alliances. A US research center has concluded that this is
going to happen eventually.
That Ukraine is not being treated seriously in the European Union -
even as a prospective member in the less than near future - is the fault
of, above all, Ukraine itself, its government, and the absence of any economic
progress.
This will be high on the agenda of the Central Europe and the Black
Sea-Baltic summits to be held in May in Lviv and in the fall in Yalta.
Maybe there still is hope: after all, no country in the world has ever
made its history in as little as seven years. There is ample food for thought
for certain people.
While the Polish window towards Europe is still open, more and more
Ukrainians are trying to take advantage of it. But what will happen tomorrow
should it close?







