Why Brussels has turned its back to Ukraine?
Posted in: EU, Ukraine | Comments (0)
The author of this article thinks that the European Union has deceived Ukraine, and said that after outpouring of European hopes and enthusiasm of six years ago, the country is now even more distant to accession to the EU then before.
“Ukraine has a large debt, has become more corrupt and has remained so dysfunctional, as in 2004, when hundreds of thousands people went out into the streets of Kyiv to support the Orange Revolution”. – says the publication.
The same leaders, who have promoted democratic reforms and the accession of Ukraine to the EU instead of depending on Russia. It was the best moment for Europe, thinks the Newsweek, to influence Ukraine. But Brussels has responded with indifference.
“Infighting about new Constitution and the fear that the West would choke with ostarbeiters from Eastern Europe, the EU officials avoided calling Ukraine “European country” and refused to launch the formal accession process”.
The magazine describes it as a record loss of a “golden moment to westernize Ukraine”, irrespectively who would win the presidential elections.
How can we explain the cold attitude of the EU towards Ukraine?
To explain how the prospect of the EU membership can be powerful, author of the article gives example of Turkey.
Over the last ten years Turkey has made significant changes: instead of politically clans and debts, loans have emerged, banks are functional and the first understanding of the economy has emerged, the army has been excluded from policy and economy, and the democratic reforms have led to a more open society. For Europe it has cost only a signal of possible accession of Turkey to the EU, and intensive diplomatic reforms for the changes taking place in Turkey.
Why haven’t you given a similar possibility to Ukraine, despite the fact that this its education, industrialization and culture, Ukraine suits more naturally for Europe? One explanation is the time, says the Newsweek. Turks began taking seriously the possible accession in 2002. Turkey has become a candidate before 2005, when the EU was already tired by its enlargement.
But as the deeper explanation can be a lack of vision.
In the case of Ukraine, the EU was more concerned by the short-term plans, than by strategic ambitions. And lost the excellent possibility to stabilize its eastern flank, despite the fact, that Moscow which opposes the accession of Ukraine to NATO, has never been bothered by the EU enlargement.
What role did the Ukrainian elite play?
The Newsweek believes that Ukraine has played a big role itself, in the fact that Brussels has turned its back to Ukraine.
Last year, the EU initiative to improve Ukrainian gas transportation system felt Kyiv’s reluctance to fight corruption and to take the path of transparency.
Recent years due to infighting within the “orange camp”, several rounds of populist spending in the country have been financed mostly by the emission. The rising energy prices have led to a loss of a competitiveness of the steel and metallurgical industry of Ukraine.
The external debt of this year reached $37 billions. This debt could be partly covered by the IMF loan, but the politicians disagree on the painful requirements of the bank. Therefore, it’s quite possible that Kyiv will seek a loan in Moscow. But Moscow has no cash either, but it wants to put hand on Ukrainian gas transportation system and factories.
Does the loss if final?
The agreement with Russia will cost the loss of a big piece of independence to Ukraine. But don’t using a moment, the Europe has betrayed the hopes of Ukrainians and its own interests and ideals, said the magazine.
But it’s not the end. According to surveys, 70% of Ukrainians would like to join the EU, but the risk of major economic meltdown in Ukraine, complicates the task of further integration in Europe.
To rotate this process in 180° seems less attractive to Brussels. But the worst prospect is to have a betrayed state on Eastern border of Europe.
admin @ January 29, 2010
Official results of the 1st round of elections
Posted in: Elections, Ukraine | Comments (0)
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Yanukovych V. F.
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35.32%
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Votes for: 8 686 751
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Tymochenko Y. V.
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25.05%
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Votes for: 6 159 829
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Tihipko S. L.
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13.06%
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Votes for: 3 211 257
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Yatsenyuk A. P.
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6.96%
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Votes for: 1 711 749
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Yushchenko V. A.
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5.45%
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Votes for: 1 341 539
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admin @ January 19, 2010
Elections in Ukraine – it’s not the end for democracy
Posted in: Elections, Ukraine | Comments (1)
There are a lot of articles in foreign press that the first round of elections sh
owed, that democracy in Ukraine has died, and that the Yanukovych will certainly become a president.
But it’s not like this. Yanukovych won with 32.35% of votes, Tymoshenko had only 25.05%. But it was only the first round of elections. People voted for other democratic candidates, that’s why she couldn’t get a majority of votes. And Yanukovych is the only strong pro-Russian candidate. This gave him so many votes.
Conclusions: I think Tymochenko will be a president, as most people who voted for other democratic candidates would prefer Tymoshenko. So I think the second round of elections will end by Tymochenko’s victory with 45% of votes, and Yanukovych will get 38%.
admin @ January 19, 2010
Ukrainian help for Haiti
Posted in: Carribbean, Disasters, Ukraine | Comments (1)
The minister of foreign affairs of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko sent a letter of condolence to the minister of foreign affairs and cult of the Republic of Haiti Maria Michelle Ray because of natural disaster in the country, which has provoked many casualties.
“In this painful moment with the Haitian people we share the pain of severe losses. Please accept the sincere condolences and let us express words of support to families and relatives of killed and injured people”.
The minister of foreign affairs of Ukraine has announced that Ukraine will send a mobile hospital to the Republic of Haiti to provide medical assistance to the victims of earthquake.
admin @ January 16, 2010
Treasures of Polubotok and the Bank of England
Posted in: EU, History, Ukraine | Comments (0)
In XVIII century sons of hetman Pavlo Polubotok (1660 – 1724) put a huge amount of money to the British East India Company (also known as B.E.I.C.) with an interest of 4% per year. There are two conditions under which we can get the money back are:
1. being a direct descendant of hetman
2. when Ukraine gains its independence
It’s known that during the Ukrainian People’s Republic (1917 – 1920) there was a case when a man came from Argentina to Vienna in the embassy of the Ukrainian People’s Republic in Austria, and said that he’s a direct descendant of hetman Polubotok. Then the ambassador of the Ukrainian People’s Republic in Austria demanded a meeting with a representative of the B.E.I.C., but such a company ceased to exist in 1858 and the entire capital and the deposit liabilities moved to the Bank of England. So it was the representative of the Bank of England who came. Further, there is no precise information what happened then. But we also know that no money has ever been sent to Ukraine.
According to the estimations the amount of money which the Bank of England has to pay to Ukraine is about £1 trillion. Of course, if we put out such an amount from the fiscal system of the Great Britain, it’ll be a big problem. But I think Ukraine would agree on repayment via tranches. However, the UK doesn’t think about repayment, because the Ukrainian government does eventually nothing to get repayment.
Generally, we can’t say for sure whether it’s a fiction or a legend, or this event took place. But I’d like to mention one interesting thing to justify that this story is true. Time of the economic prosperity of the United Kingdom and the time of putting the money on deposit account by hetman’s sons match the XVIII century. Maybe in the same way England has earned a lot of money, and this case concerns not only Ukraine but also a lot of other states.
admin @ January 9, 2010
