Credit of Love
What I remember most from the traditional economic forum that took place the week before last in the Polish resort town of Krynica are two debates. One of them, about Russia, was utterly scandalous. The Polish participants in this debate were not afraid to speak out about the problems of contemporary Russia, which has to make a final choice between the past and the future. Russia’s ambassador to Poland did not visit Krynica . Instead, those who came were liberal political scientists, journalists, and human rights campaigners invited by the Poles; their voice was not dissonant, with the Polish one but rather complemented it.
Everything was different during the Ukrainian debate. The Poles did not speak. Those who spoke were the Prime Minister of Ukraine, a deputy minister of foreign affairs, and the Ukrainian ambassador to Poland. Viktor Yushchenko was given a rapturous welcome and the prize of Man of the Year for 1999. As to Dmytro Pavlychko and Mr. Sardachuk, the current and former heads of our embassy in Warsaw, they are treated like locals. If the Russians had also kept to this kind of scenario, they would have rather been accused of contempt for human rights, freedom of speech, and unwillingness to hear their neighbors. We were heard. We were applauded. They want very much to see us the way we present ourselves. For we had not come from Burundi. Our neighbors know exactly what kind of people we are. However, they persuade themselves that in fact we are, or at least will be some day, different. We have to be!
That was not the first time I saw this kind of the perception of Ukraine: it occurs at almost all international conferences on our country I happen to attend. The truth is that this perception does not often coincide with an opportunity to see what exactly is expected from Russia. Either tough self-criticism or a neochauvinist hysteria in reply. What is expected from us are promises of reforms. And when the Ukrainian premier began to speak about what has already been done, many in the hall were listening to him mawkishly. Ah, Yushchenko!
The neighbors are more condescending toward us. Should nothing change for the better in our life, they will first be disappointed and then forget it. We seem to have never had, throughout our history, a Poland so positively disposed toward us. I only wish we would not let this chance slip through our fingers once again.
