UKRAINE GETS OFF WITH PACE SLAP ON THE HAND

As recently as a month ago few could predict the outcome of the conflict between Ukraine and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) about the Ukrainian referendum slated for April 16. At that time, Kyiv felt more keenly then ever sword of Damocles of Strasbourg’s punishment: Ukraine could find its Council of Europe membership suspended. The problem was solved, luckily, without detriment (moral, of course) to either side: Kyiv managed to save face and Strasbourg did not have to regret admitting an undemocratic country into its ranks. The “blame” for this kind of peace should be put on the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, which canceled the referendum’s two most undemocratic, in Strasbourg’s opinion, questions: on no-confidence in Verkhovna Rada and amendments to the Constitution).

This is why the report Ukrainian Foreign Minister Borys Tarasiuk delivered at the April 4 PACE session included no apologies before the Europeans. On the contrary, our foreign policy chief noted the achievements of our democracy and our fulfillment of obligations assumed five years ago when joining the Council of Europe. Especially stressed were the words about well-balanced cooperation between the executive and judicial branches of power. This claim is substantial enough if we bear in mind that European MPs are inclined to think that the President’s role is growing in Ukraine, while that of Parliament is weakening. Meanwhile, Mr. Tarasiuk reminded Council of Europe members of Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma’s annual message to Verkhovna Rada, in which he said he would not dissolve Parliament and usurp power, irrespective of referendum results. Commenting on the PACE decision, the minister stressed that the Council of Europe “can either help or harm Ukraine by calling for certain sanctions against it.” Mr. Tarasiuk expressed hope that “reason will overcome emotion.” Fortunately, the resolution the Parliamentary Assembly passed was more than satisfactory for the Ukrainians. The Europeans suggest in it that Ukraine’s membership in the Council of Europe be only suspended if referendum results are implemented in an unconstitutional way or if this country’s Constitution is amended unconstitutionally. And we can only hope that some of the Ukrainian politicians will stop playing with fire.