After Letting Off Steam, Each Went His Way
Last weekend, representatives of all political forces had an opportunity to voice their views on the situation in Ukraine at the forum “For a Democratic Development of Ukraine.” Our Ukraine emerged as the principal organizing force and the forum’s aim could be summed up as a search for ways to develop this country through a dialog involving all democratic forces in Ukraine. True, journalists had from the outset suspected OU in general and Viktor Yushchenko in particular of taking advantage of the situation. Word had spread in the lobby that Mr. Yushchenko had been offered the idea by businessmen of his bloc who wanted it to be a middle course between taking part in actions of protest and supporting the powers that be.
It is hard to disagree with Viacheslav Pikhovshek who said that, whether the forum participants wanted it or not, the main point of discussion was President Kuchma’s recent initiative of the political reform. It is also true that what Mr. Yushchenko had to say on both occasions strongly reminded one of campaign speeches about why we all live so miserably. Last Sunday he declared that his bloc proposes a number of steps to lead Ukraine out of the crisis and that these steps may result from a dialog with the regime. One such way is through forming a parliamentary majority without any administrative pressure, based on the democratic forces that won the elections, then forming a coalition government without waiting for amendments to the constitution, and finally signing a trilateral political agreement between parliament, president, and cabinet. “I thing that those in power will agree to a dialog,” he said.
In fact, many politicians, addressing the forum, among them Our Ukrainians, called for a dialog. MP Mykola Zhulynsky said that an “aspiration for a dialogue with the regime should be the leitmotivs of today’s gathering.” Specific proposals concerning political cooperation were voiced by Serhiy Tyhypko, leader of the Businessmen and Entrepreneurs Party faction, Stepan Havrysh, leader of the group Democratic Initiatives, and Nestor Shufrych of the SDPU (o) faction. Socialist leader Oleksandr Moroz proposed something to the contrary. He said he was speaking on behalf of Yulia Tymoshenko and Petro Symonenko (none was in attendance). As was to be expected, Oleksandr Moroz delivered an ardent speech consisting, habitually lashing out at the “corrupt regime.” He also cautioned Viktor Yushchenko against campaigning for premiership, since, in his opinion, it would be “a game of three moves.” On behalf of SPU, CPU, and Tymoshenko bloc, he urged those present to vote for joining the actions of protest, announcing that the opposition would ignore the city hall’s enactment banning rallies downtown.
Leonid Kuchma addressed a letter to the forum, thanking the organizing committee for the invitation (according to Interfax, the invitation was delivered to the head of state by OU leader Viktor Yushchenko) and pointing out that he had had no opportunity to familiarize himself with the program and list of the delegates. “This form of invitation contradicts practices adopted by civilized countries across the world,” he noted, but said he was prepared to study the Democratic Development’s proposals and discuss them with their authors. The president further pointed out that the tasks set by the forum are topical and “reflect the sincere aspirations” of the democratic forces to influence the process of political and socioeconomic transformations. The letter also stressed that the President had on more than one occasion spoken in favor of a dialog between the regime and society, and that he had not changed his stand. “I am convinced it (the dialog — V.S.) should start with combined preparatory efforts.” Mr. Kuchma believes that this dialog should be constructive from the outset, implying that all parties are prepared to listen each other out and achieve concrete results. The head of state further believes that a decision on upgrading the political system must be made in parliament. “Regrettably, I am still unaware of your attitude to the proposed approach,” Leonid Kuchma said, addressing OU leader Viktor Yushchenko.
The forum passed five resolutions, urging those in power to start a dialog with the people and supporting the idea of a radical administrative reform. It was also resolved to set up a standing coordinating council of the political parties and volunteer organizations to consolidate the political reform effort in Ukraine. “We are for a large-scale political reform envisaging proportionate parliamentary elections, redilimiting political authority in favor of the Verkhovna Rada and cabinet, for the government to be formed by the parliamentary majority, and enhancing the principles of local self-government,” reads the document. The democratic forum called on those in power to further the administrative and criminal amenability of officials and media originators for deliberate acts obstructing journalists in the line of duty or censorship-oriented.
Despite heaps of documents approved, most forum participants, judging by lobby exchanges, were left with a sense of dissatisfaction. Many — both Left and Right — wondered about the scale of the event and its actual use, both from the podium and in the lobby. Quite a few analysts noted that forum participants relied on emotions rather than specific rational proposals. It is easy to notice that some 80% of the resolutions consist of critique. It is safe to assume that the main result of the people’s forum “For a Democratic Development of Ukraine” was that the domestic political community had a good chance to let their steam off. In this sense the whole thing could be described as successful; politicians had an opportunity to vent their feelings and did just that rather than resort to unlawful actions. Another important event in the course of the forum — one that most likely took place in the overall atmosphere of free exchange of ideas — was Our Ukraine’s decision to take part in the formation of a parliamentary majority without any ultimatum-like declarations.
