Anatoly PONOMARENKO: Germans are ready to cooperate to assert democratic principles in Ukraine
On September 12 Berlin witnessed a ceremony commemorating the tenth anniversary of Ukrainian independence. That day Germany in mourning for the victims of the terrorist attack in America and the Ukrainian Embassy did its best to have the ceremony in an atmosphere of solidarity with the American people. A conference called Ten Years of Ukrainian Independence: Opportunities and Challenges was attended by German Foreign Ministry State Secretary Christoph Zoppel and other German officials. Ukrainian Minister of Culture and the Arts Yuri Bohutsky, the editor-in-chief of The Day, Verkhovna Rada Ombudsman Nina Korpachova, and former Premier Viktor Yushchenko. Anatoly PONOMARENKO, Ukraine’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Federal Republic of Germany, told The Day about other independence festivities and their importance in Berlin.
The Day: How did the tenth anniversary festivities look in the foreign political context in Berlin?
A. P.: Berlin is an important European capital and last year we made arrangements with our partner, the German-Ukrainian Forum, for a number of tenth anniversary events. A commemorative conference was held at the German Foreign Ministry. Afterwards we and members of the Ukrainian diaspora placed a wreath on the grave of Yevhen Petrushevych, President of the West Ukrainian People’s Republic, an impressive figure in our history and politically comparable with UNR President Mykhailo Hrushevsky. A memorial plaque for the great film director Oleksandr Dovzhenko was unveiled on one of Berlin’s central streets, at 69 Bismarkstrasse, on the wall of the house where he lived when working as secretary of the Soviet Ukrainian trade mission’s consular section. The ceremony was attended by the Ukrainian Minister of Culture and officials from the City Hall and the German Foreign Ministry.
The Day: Was it an act of immortalizing a colleague’s memory?
A. P.: Yes, in a way it was. I also dealt with consular affairs once, and I think that it wasn’t easy for Dovzhenko, because he was a creative personality. And as such, he took advantage of his official status to communicate with noted German cultural figures. Among his friends were critic Konzwicz, Heinrich Zugel, classic painters of the 1920s and thirties, and he frequented art salons. He quickly befriended noted German actors and film directors and all this resulted in the holding of Days of Culture of the Ukrainian SSR in Berlin, in the 1930s. Berlin also saw the premiere of his Arsenal. The film was a great success and now one of the movie theaters, on Potsdamplatz, is called Arsenal. The name comes from the film’s title. It is still there. I think that immortalizing Dovzhenko’s name has a symbolic importance for both Ukrainians and Germans. It is a tribute to justice, reminding us that the celebrated Ukrainian film director was closely connected with German art, and that cultural contacts in Europe are of great importance and have a long history.
Finally, a concert and a top-level reception took place in commemoration of the anniversary. Arranging all this wasn’t easy in the aftermath of the terrorist attack on America. At first we weren’t sure how to go about it. The German government announced two days of mourning. We consulted the performers that had arrived from Ukraine and decided the concert would take place. At a time like that it was important not to remain silent. We had to say something. I think we managed and I’m grateful to our singers who, together with the German choir, performed a composition dedicated to the victims of that unprecedented act of terrorism. Symbolically, they performed “Ode to Friendship” from the archives of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, third son of the great Johann Sebastian Bach. Also symbolically, Ukraine is returning these archives to Germany
The Day: Are there any changes in the attitude toward Ukraine in Europe?
A. P.: Now that’s a very difficult question. All I can say is that among those present at the concert were Bundestag members, many diplomats, ambassadors, businesspeople, and cultural figures. They all feel good about Ukraine, and I think that the Ukrainian independence festivities in Germany nicely augmented our international image. Regrettably, now and then one can hear critical remarks, primarily concerning freedom of the press. I also think that the issue of the German ethnic community in Ukraine remains rather problematic, but the Ukrainian leadership is well aware of it. I believe that during political consultations at the coming summit President Kuchma will discuss it with Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schr Ъ der (the interview was taken on September 12 — Ed.). The Germans are prepared to cooperate with us and help us assert the principles of civil society in Ukraine; this will help us move further in the European space and come even closer to the EU standard.
