umstvennaya ustalost'
02/05/2004 | peter byrne
http://www.kyivpost.com/nation/media/20698/
Calling Ground Control
Feb 5, 2004 01:18
Studio 1+1 [UT-2] on Jan. 31 played host to President Leonid Kuchma in a fawning interview moderated by talk-show host Vyacheslav Pikhovshek, the head of the 1+1 TV channel’s “TSN” news program and host of the “Epicenter” talk show.
During the chit chat, the president clarified his position on a number of issues, including the upcoming presidential elections, the political reform process and the possibility that Ukrainians could colonize Mars.
I am not a ghost
“It is true that the Constitutional Court’s ruling clears me to put forward my candidacy in this year’s elections. But obviously, it is up to me to say the last word. I have stated my position on a number of occasions. “I know that some politicians like to repeat that they don’t believe me. I can say to some of them that the feeling is mutual. I do not rule out that they won’t believe me this time as well. Viktor Yushchenko has recently said such things that I even felt ashamed for him. He does not believe his own eyes, and even called me a ghost.” [Yushchenko, in fact, had described Kuchma as the “spirit” behind the pro-presidential majority in parliament.]
Reform: no big deal
“It seems to me that all the problems result from the fact that not all spades are called spades. Naturally, when a vital decision for a country is being made, for instance regarding constitutional reform, then every political force is trying to take an active part in it... Some forces oppose any change. They don’t need democracy or to move closer to Europe, provided that one of their own is in charge as president. They’re afraid to say so openly, so they pretend that they are campaigning for a better political system. But their goals are completely different.“A compromise with the opposition is needed. That is beyond doubt, because the opposition is an inalienable part of a civilized political process and normal parliamentary activity. So it must participate in constitutional reform. Let us look at what is going on now. The issues that sparked the parliamentary conflict are not really fundamental. The main provisions of reform, including those put down in bill No. 4105 [which received preliminary parliamentary approval on Dec. 24], are supported by almost all the main parliamentary forces. They have said so themselves. So the procedure of presidential elections is the only thing to agree upon.”
Why there was no Ukraine
“I have an impression that opposition leaders think that if their party is not in power, then it is not a party, but rather a song and dance show, speaking in Russian. Unfortunately, we lack the culture of political struggle. The opposition sometimes is led by the famous principle: the worse, the better. And thus it discredits not only itself, but the whole country. This is because opposition leaders do not want to understand a simple truth – the opposition is the minority, and thus cannot dictate its decisions to the majority.“If there really is a crisis somewhere, it is a crisis in parliament. So the decision must be taken in parliament, first of all. If there is any way I can help in reaching a compromise, I am ready to help. I have never refused to cooperate. Just tell me when and how. But those who are now demanding that I help should not later accuse me of interfering in parliament’s work.“I cannot say that our opposition is responsible. It seems that it does not believe in itself, it does not believe that it can achieve anything. Another feature of our oppositionists is that no one else except our opposition tries to solve our own problems, Ukraine’s problems, not at home but abroad. Have you ever seen Polish, Russian, Slovak or Hungarian representatives going abroad and slurring their own country, wherever they can? Have you forgotten history? In the times of Bohdan Khmelnytsky some people went to Russia, others went to Poland or Turkey. That is why we didn’t have our own country.”
They’re so uncivilized
“Our opposition calls itself civilized, but it can destroy the balance in this country, ruin stability, and push people to rash actions. I will not hide the fact that I am watching these exercises very closely. I can say with full authority – I will not allow it to ruin stability. I do not have the right to allow it as president. Let’s look [at what has happened] after Our Ukraine’s assault on Donetsk.” [The reference is to Our Ukraine’s attempt to hold a congress in Donetsk last autumn, which was disrupted by protesters. The opposition accuses the government of orchestrating the protests.]“I read this in one big opposition newspaper; perhaps you noticed this too. The headline ran across the page: ‘Donetsk guys should be taught how to live in Ukraine.’ So what is this? Do you realize what you are saying? Is it not our common goal to be one nation? Instead, there is a sincere desire to divide people into those from Donetsk, from Lviv, from Sumy or Kirovohrad. That is the position of the opposition.“One can often feel that the opposition leaders harbor a personal grievance. But all of them used to be in office, all of them contributed to establishing what they now describe as a criminal regime. All of them used to enjoy privileges, and all of them have made a good fortune, if we call a spade a spade. Most of them did not quit their posts voluntarily; hence their attempts to spite those who stayed in office. “What is the purpose of all this? To help Ukraine? All this looks like an outright campaign to discredit the country, which has a clear aim and predictable consequences, unfortunately.
Calling ground control
“Let me talk about things other than politics. Perhaps this is a bit futuristic, but I am thinking about the future in space, and I have no reason not to think about it. There are realistic discussions today about programs of human settlements on the Moon, and then on Mars.I am dreaming of Ukraine being involved in this project. Ukrainians must fly to the Moon – but not all of them, of course. Someone should stay to fly to Mars. Of course, it would be brilliant if we could afford these programs on our own. This could be a lavish gift for our Ukrainian pride. But currently such programs are affordable only for a team of several countries. So let us dream of our participation in such teams. But participation in them can also satisfy our national ambitions quite well.“Another dream I could describe this way: Ukraine for all Ukrainians. I mean Ukrainians from abroad, the Diaspora, especially those Americans and Canadians of Ukrainian origin who have achieved business success. For a start, I want at least a thousand of these prominent Ukrainians to accept this invitation, come to Ukraine and have a try here, in business, science, culture or government. You know, I am very sorry to see certain social events involving Ukrainians from abroad. Often they come [to Ukraine] to fight the regime rather than do their job. We have enough fighters of our own. We are short of workers, real hard workers. Please come to Ukraine to establish yourself and to be a success. You are welcome.”
Calling Ground Control
Feb 5, 2004 01:18
Studio 1+1 [UT-2] on Jan. 31 played host to President Leonid Kuchma in a fawning interview moderated by talk-show host Vyacheslav Pikhovshek, the head of the 1+1 TV channel’s “TSN” news program and host of the “Epicenter” talk show.
During the chit chat, the president clarified his position on a number of issues, including the upcoming presidential elections, the political reform process and the possibility that Ukrainians could colonize Mars.
I am not a ghost
“It is true that the Constitutional Court’s ruling clears me to put forward my candidacy in this year’s elections. But obviously, it is up to me to say the last word. I have stated my position on a number of occasions. “I know that some politicians like to repeat that they don’t believe me. I can say to some of them that the feeling is mutual. I do not rule out that they won’t believe me this time as well. Viktor Yushchenko has recently said such things that I even felt ashamed for him. He does not believe his own eyes, and even called me a ghost.” [Yushchenko, in fact, had described Kuchma as the “spirit” behind the pro-presidential majority in parliament.]
Reform: no big deal
“It seems to me that all the problems result from the fact that not all spades are called spades. Naturally, when a vital decision for a country is being made, for instance regarding constitutional reform, then every political force is trying to take an active part in it... Some forces oppose any change. They don’t need democracy or to move closer to Europe, provided that one of their own is in charge as president. They’re afraid to say so openly, so they pretend that they are campaigning for a better political system. But their goals are completely different.“A compromise with the opposition is needed. That is beyond doubt, because the opposition is an inalienable part of a civilized political process and normal parliamentary activity. So it must participate in constitutional reform. Let us look at what is going on now. The issues that sparked the parliamentary conflict are not really fundamental. The main provisions of reform, including those put down in bill No. 4105 [which received preliminary parliamentary approval on Dec. 24], are supported by almost all the main parliamentary forces. They have said so themselves. So the procedure of presidential elections is the only thing to agree upon.”
Why there was no Ukraine
“I have an impression that opposition leaders think that if their party is not in power, then it is not a party, but rather a song and dance show, speaking in Russian. Unfortunately, we lack the culture of political struggle. The opposition sometimes is led by the famous principle: the worse, the better. And thus it discredits not only itself, but the whole country. This is because opposition leaders do not want to understand a simple truth – the opposition is the minority, and thus cannot dictate its decisions to the majority.“If there really is a crisis somewhere, it is a crisis in parliament. So the decision must be taken in parliament, first of all. If there is any way I can help in reaching a compromise, I am ready to help. I have never refused to cooperate. Just tell me when and how. But those who are now demanding that I help should not later accuse me of interfering in parliament’s work.“I cannot say that our opposition is responsible. It seems that it does not believe in itself, it does not believe that it can achieve anything. Another feature of our oppositionists is that no one else except our opposition tries to solve our own problems, Ukraine’s problems, not at home but abroad. Have you ever seen Polish, Russian, Slovak or Hungarian representatives going abroad and slurring their own country, wherever they can? Have you forgotten history? In the times of Bohdan Khmelnytsky some people went to Russia, others went to Poland or Turkey. That is why we didn’t have our own country.”
They’re so uncivilized
“Our opposition calls itself civilized, but it can destroy the balance in this country, ruin stability, and push people to rash actions. I will not hide the fact that I am watching these exercises very closely. I can say with full authority – I will not allow it to ruin stability. I do not have the right to allow it as president. Let’s look [at what has happened] after Our Ukraine’s assault on Donetsk.” [The reference is to Our Ukraine’s attempt to hold a congress in Donetsk last autumn, which was disrupted by protesters. The opposition accuses the government of orchestrating the protests.]“I read this in one big opposition newspaper; perhaps you noticed this too. The headline ran across the page: ‘Donetsk guys should be taught how to live in Ukraine.’ So what is this? Do you realize what you are saying? Is it not our common goal to be one nation? Instead, there is a sincere desire to divide people into those from Donetsk, from Lviv, from Sumy or Kirovohrad. That is the position of the opposition.“One can often feel that the opposition leaders harbor a personal grievance. But all of them used to be in office, all of them contributed to establishing what they now describe as a criminal regime. All of them used to enjoy privileges, and all of them have made a good fortune, if we call a spade a spade. Most of them did not quit their posts voluntarily; hence their attempts to spite those who stayed in office. “What is the purpose of all this? To help Ukraine? All this looks like an outright campaign to discredit the country, which has a clear aim and predictable consequences, unfortunately.
Calling ground control
“Let me talk about things other than politics. Perhaps this is a bit futuristic, but I am thinking about the future in space, and I have no reason not to think about it. There are realistic discussions today about programs of human settlements on the Moon, and then on Mars.I am dreaming of Ukraine being involved in this project. Ukrainians must fly to the Moon – but not all of them, of course. Someone should stay to fly to Mars. Of course, it would be brilliant if we could afford these programs on our own. This could be a lavish gift for our Ukrainian pride. But currently such programs are affordable only for a team of several countries. So let us dream of our participation in such teams. But participation in them can also satisfy our national ambitions quite well.“Another dream I could describe this way: Ukraine for all Ukrainians. I mean Ukrainians from abroad, the Diaspora, especially those Americans and Canadians of Ukrainian origin who have achieved business success. For a start, I want at least a thousand of these prominent Ukrainians to accept this invitation, come to Ukraine and have a try here, in business, science, culture or government. You know, I am very sorry to see certain social events involving Ukrainians from abroad. Often they come [to Ukraine] to fight the regime rather than do their job. We have enough fighters of our own. We are short of workers, real hard workers. Please come to Ukraine to establish yourself and to be a success. You are welcome.”