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We hope that in the New Year our readers will remain as faithful and exacting as they were throughout 1998. During the past year we offered you what we thought were the best features carried by the daily Ukrainian Den (and the latter had quickly won the reputation of one of the country's most respected publications). We wanted you to have a clearer view of our social and political palette, diverse economic issues, cultural life, sports, and polls. We set ourselves the task of conveying original texts in translation within the shortest physically possible period, preserving as much as possible of their quality and color. This was not easy, but we felt responsible and did our best.

We started this project last year because we wanted to make the Ukrainian press - as represented by our staff and part-time journalists - accessible to all those wishing to know more about Ukraine but unable to surmount the language barrier. Another reason was that we wanted to put across the idea of many Ukrainians about having civilized relationships not only with our neighbors but partaking of world civilization in a broader sense of the word. This could probably be considered our contribution to the building a democratic civil society in Ukraine. Time has proven that the project was not only a good idea but also a necessity. Eventually, our weekly digest, The Day, was made available on the Internet, meaning accessibility to an audience of millions. Our information about life in Ukraine, which many still identify with Russia, believing Kyiv to be a Soviet or Communist city (as evidenced by letters received from Guatemala, Argentina, Jamaica, Nepal, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, etc.), is now easily obtainable in any part of the world. And all this thanks to the Internet. Maybe a "cold medium," according to one of our readers, but making it possible for us to be aware of the presence of all our readers, not virtual but real. We know how you feel about Ukraine, what worries and interests you here. It is a shame that Ukraine produces too little good news. Needless to say, we would be happy to publish more positive encouraging news. Regrettably, life here is precisely the way you can feel reading The Day, so our duty is to reflect it as honestly as possible. Our main principle is communicating with the reader in a straightforward unbiased manner. We are gratified to know that you have noticed and appreciated this approach, pointing out that it takes courage and that we have measured up. Frankly speaking, there are indications that we may before long  find ourselves Ukraine's only truthful newspaper.

To an extent we have delegated ourselves one of the functions of the state: building the nation's image in the eyes of the international community, demonstrating its tremendous intellectual and cultural potential which, unfortunately, has not as yet been put to full use by our state.

It seems that the Den copes with one of its tasks quite effectively, making Ukrainians think seriously about how we live in Ukraine and why the situation is so disheartening. We hope that this will encourage them take a definite stand come the fall.

Personally, I would like to add that I am happy to work with The Day's compact team, for every member is a first rate and genuinely dedicated professional, keenly aware of his/her responsibility before Ukraine and every reader.