Posted on 03/09/2006 9:02:12 AM PST by lizol
Ukrainian diplomat: Russia has no special relationship with other ex-Soviet states
Mar 09 2006, 17:23
(AP) Russians must abandon the idea that Moscow has a special relationship with ex-Soviet republics or plays a civilizing role in the post-Soviet region, a senior Ukrainian diplomat said Thursday.
"If we want to talk about having normal relations, we must reject some of these myths," Deputy Foreign Minister Volodymyr Ohryzko said at a round-table with Russian and Ukrainian political analysts in Kyiv about how Ukraine's March 26 parliamentary elections will affect the neighbors' relations.
"You have to understand and accept that Ukraine is not a province ... Ukraine is not Russia," said Ohryzko, who insisted on speaking Ukrainian despite requests for him to address the Russian-speaking group in Russian.
Relations between Kyiv and Moscow cooled significantly after the Orange Revolution mass protests, which helped pro-Western Viktor Yushchenko defeat a Kremlin-backed candidate to become president over a year ago.
Now the losing candidate's party is leading in the polls before the parliamentary election, in which voters are being offered a stark choice between making Ukraine's foreign policy priority Russia or the West.
But while Viktor Yanukovych's party stands to win the most votes, it is unlikely to get a majority and would have to find a coalition partner to form a parliamentary majority and name the prime minister. Analysts at the round-table predicted that the most likely scenario is a coalition between Yushchenko and Yanukovych, in which someone such as Yushchenko's current Security Council chief Anatoliy Kinakh becomes prime minister.
Under new constitutional reforms, some presidential powers pass to parliament, but the president retains the right to name the foreign and defense ministers and will continue to be the country's main political leader.
"A choice was made by Ukraine in December 2004, and that choice doesn't need another confirmation," Ohryzko said, referring to the 2004 presidential election. "We want good relations with Russia, but our aim is the European Union and NATO."
Sergei Markov, a Kremlin-connected political analyst, said, however, that the upcoming election should be seen as a chance for significant changes to Ukraine's relations with Russia. He said he hoped the election would push Ukraine closer toward a Russian-dominated economic union of ex-Soviet republics.
"Voters will be choosing whether to have a coalition of high prices for gas or a coalition of average prices," Markov said, referring to the gas dispute between Kyiv and Moscow earlier this year that led to a near doubling in the price for Ukraine.
Markov's comments drew some heckling from the Ukrainian journalists in the room. Many Ukrainians strongly opposed what they saw as Russian President Vladimir Putin's attempts to meddle in the presidential election, and feared that the gas dispute was another attempt at Kremlin interference before this vote.
"The most important thing is that no one should come here and think they can tell us what position or who to support," said Mykhailo Pozhyvanov, a lawmaker with Yushchenko's party.
Ping
""You have to understand and accept that Ukraine is not a province ... Ukraine is not Russia," said Ohryzko, who insisted on speaking Ukrainian despite requests for him to address the Russian-speaking group in Russian. "
Ukrainian is a much more pleasant language than Russian - they should be thankfull.
"Analysts at the round-table predicted that the most likely scenario is a coalition between Yushchenko and Yanukovych..."
That can't be good.
If your recently posted statement on another thread:
"I don't read Russian and would not mind if it became obsolete." is true, how would you be able to make the following claim:
"Ukrainian is a much more pleasant language than Russian - they should be thankfull." ?
Fox is discussing the CFR report that Russia is heading the wrong way and cant be trusted.
Tough one to lose!
So? If Fox News reports it we're supposed to consider it completely accurate? I don't give anything Strobe Talbott's hands have touched any credence. Look at the bios of the people who authored that report. A lot of FOBs on there.
PS - don't think we haven't noticed you never answer any questions posed to you that could establish the veracity of your statements on here.
""You have to understand and accept that Ukraine is not a province ... Ukraine is not Russia," said Ohryzko, who insisted on speaking Ukrainian despite requests for him to address the Russian-speaking group in Russian. " ==
He is just pompous ass:).. If he wants to be understood he has not to be so egocentric.
"He is just pompous ass"
And only a pompous, imperious Russian would accuse someone speaking in their native language as "pompous" an "egocentric".
And the only thing Russia understands is force - ergo the WTO vote and Jackson Vanik this past week.
And did you notice how cheap oil and gas is getting?
Get ready to buy some cheap dachas! Ten cents on the dollar within 2 years.
And only a pompous, imperious Russian would accuse someone speaking in their native language as "pompous" an "egocentric".==
When you invite guests from different country to discuss mutual interesting problems. They came. Then you begin to speak to them your native language especially knowing that they do not understand it.
Obvious question: If you don't want to discuss things then why you invited people?
What are you i
n such surcumstances? Non polite non classy popous ass. Obviously isn't it? So is your foreign ministry guy.
And did you notice how cheap oil and gas is getting? ==
Ok. Tomorow Russia will decrease oil&gas pumping on 10%. Where will be prices then?:)))
"Then you begin to speak to them your native language especially knowing that they do not understand it. "
The only thing Russians understand is force - and since they don't have Ukrainians to do their fighting for them, their future is bleak.
The only thing Russians understand is force - and since they don't have Ukrainians to do their fighting for them, their future is bleak.==
Can you prove what you say?:) Spanalot your russophobia so obvious:)..
http://www.infoukes.com/history/ww2/page-29.html
So much for the great sacrifices of the Russian people - their losses are small compared to where the action really was - in Polan and Ukraine (not Moscow)
So much for the great sacrifices of the Russian people - their losses are small compared to where the action really was - in Polan and Ukraine (not Moscow)==
Infoukes is propaganda source.
Just one prove. It stories about how bad "oppressed Ukraine was by russians" during soviet times but suddently mentioned that in 1962 ukranian cosmonaut got in space.
Any reasonable man may ask question here: How come so oppressed nation got ever its man to space?
For example no cosmonauts from Baltic states was there or no jew cosmonauts got in space during Soviet times. But "oppressed" ukranian cosmonaut got there. How so?
Can you explain such paradox which your Infoukes passes out?:) Propaganda distortions. Ifoukes is full of it.
Spanalot go learn some real history and won't be embarrassed next time.
"It stories about how bad "oppressed Ukraine was by russians" during soviet times but suddently mentioned that in 1962 ukranian cosmonaut got in space. "
I think what youre trying to say is that "How can there have been the Genocide of 12 million Ukrainians in 1921 and 1932 when Moscow put a Ukrainian into space in 1962"
And of course the response is that you , Rusiva, have attained new depths of irrationality. No one is as blind to the propaganda ploys of the Kremlin as you appear to be.
But seriously, why should a Ukrainian speak to a Russian in Russian? why wouldn't the Russian learn Ukrainian and speak to the Ukrainian in Ukrainian?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.