Dear Colleagues,
Interstate relations between Ukraine and Russia largely determine the internal and external policies of our country, its economic development and civil accord in society, especially in Crimea.
A considerable part of Ukrainian citizens realize that the relationship with Russia is much more than good-neighborly relations.
A sufficient legal framework of Ukrainian-Russian cooperation was created during the years of independence.
Over than 360 bilateral agreements that regulate trade and economic, scientific, and military-technical, humanitarian and other spheres was signed.
Kharkov agreement to extend Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation was occupy a special place.
It has become a powerful foundation for a new long-term policy, not only our country but also in the whole of Eastern Europe. The past year has clearly confirmed this.
Special role in the dramatic changes in domestic and foreign policy belongs to the President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych.
Thanks to his personal efforts many obstacles between our two countries, which left "orange power" have already been overcome.
The Ukrainian society is formed by a belief that further good-neighborly and mutually beneficial relations will develop with great dynamism. This should facilitate and public diplomacy.
The traditional meeting of regional leaders in Russia and Ukraine, the authoritative political scientists and leaders of public organizations in the festival "The Great Russian Word" is one of the notable events of this kind.
Dear Colleagues, On behalf of the Supreme Council, I welcome the participants of the forum "Cooperation 2011" and I wish you fruitful deliberations.
Noting positive trends in the Ukrainian-Russian relations, we must not forget what negative consequences could result in the activities of the previous government.
Then the country's political leadership acted with the concept of forming a new Ukrainian nation – “A real Ukrainians.” Its main goal is to eradicate from the minds of citizens the historical memory of our fraternal relations, to create an image of Russia as a centuries-old enemy.
At different levels of individual politicians voiced words to revise history, to create myths about the centuries-old antagonism between the two nations. The monuments were opened by dubious heroes. They were remembered as enemies of Russia.
Oppression, especially in western regions of Ukraine, the largest denomination in Ukraine, the Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate is in a negative number.
This policy divided the country and Ukrainian society.
Unfortunately, attempts are being made to revive the ideology galichanskoy exclusivity even today.
I will refer to only one fact, when on May 9 the representatives of right-wing organizations in Lviv mocked the values of our common victory.
Among the public issues that were discussed at the Council of Regions of the President of Ukraine was the question of preventing radicalism in social and political life.
Supreme Council of autonomy, a number of regional and city councils have taken a special statement condemning the actions of neo-Nazis.
I want to say a few words about the problem of regional languages. Experts call different number - from 13 to 16. Among them are particularly acute problem free functioning of the Russian language.
There is a paradoxical situation in Ukraine: on the one hand, tolerance of the Ukrainian people to the Russian language, on the other - intolerance of some politicians and representatives of humanitarian intelligentsia for Russian culture.
Politicization prevents search of a civilized and acceptable to all compromise solutions to language problems.
I want to draw your attention to the fact that position and protect the Russian language - it's not only issues of culture and morality, but above all law.
Attempts in the field guide available legislative framework and, the European Charter of Regional or Minority Languages, stumble, at best, a blank wall of bureaucratic, chaos at worst - on the administrative burden.
Currently, not only post-Soviet space is becoming increasingly important world of the "Russian world" rusofoniya. The Russian language and culture, is becoming a global supranational environment.
The world community has successfully developed the Francophonie, Anglophone, Commonwealth of Portuguese Speaking Countries.
I guess forum members will give their opinions on this issue.
European experts have repeatedly talked about the violation of rights of Ukrainian citizens, particularly the Russian-speaking, the development of language, education and information through the media.
Recommendation of the Council of Europe, including late-March resolution, the Committee of Ministers on the democratization of the language environment in Ukraine have become more stringent.
About 190 decisions and appeals on general political and legal issues were adopted in the Verkhovna Rada of the autonomy.
We kept holding the sign for the Crimean and Ukrainian festival "The Great Russian Word" and Yalta Film "Together", Chekhov's theatrical days.
There are number of young Crimean received on favorable terms in the prestigious Russian universities. Retraining in Russian scientific centers of Teachers of Russian Language and Literature is held.
I will express a paradoxical idea: the more people will have rights in the humanitarian sphere, the great patriots of their country they will be.
The allegation that the expansion of the scope of the Russian language encourages separatism and deepen the schism in Ukraine is meaningless and logic.
At the same time I must say to radical Russophile: we have not only the right to speak in Russian, to develop it, but a duty to the state, citizens - to know the Ukrainian language.
Bilingualism in our country is the imperative of our time!
The new draft law "On languages in Ukraine," initiated by deputies from the Party of Regions, is primarily determined by the norms of support of Russian language.
It expands the rights of local governments to determine the Russian and other national languages - regional.
The new law will allow a compromise between the two largest linguistic communities in the country.
The new law removes many of the contradictions, including the raising of the issue and the federalization of Ukraine. Society is not yet ready for such a polity.
President announced a large-scale municipal reform, decentralization of power, empowerment of local governments. I hope that the rights of the local regional government will be expanded in the humanitarian sphere.
Using a high level of representation from the Russian side, I want to make a few suggestions.
Its time for the state level in Ukraine and Russia to organize commissions to develop a common historical conception of the most complex and controversial chapters in the history of our peoples, including those associated with the Crimea.
A few words about the development of economic relations between the Russian and Ukrainian regions.
Engineering products, food and chemical industries was gone in Russia.
The Russian Federation is the largest investor in Ukrainian economy. The Russian market - is the foundation on which Ukraine could be integrated into Europe.
The Crimean peninsula has a special place in geopolitics.
Autonomy is at the top ten regions of Ukraine in terms of attracting foreign capital. Among investors are representatives from 50 countries. Leadership was the Russian Federation.
The Supreme Council and the Government of the Republic adopted a long-term program of development of the Crimea. It provides for modernization of various sectors of economic complex.
A special place is the most promising for the Crimea resort and tourism industry.
We have almost a fifth part of the resort and recreational complex of Ukraine.
We need joint action. We have the experience of interregional cooperation.
Dear Colleagues, Our relationship lacks dynamism, coordination and consistency in achieving common objectives in the interests of both peoples and nations.
We are waiting for more active support of the compatriots.
Russian-speaking population of Ukraine is still in an aggressive information environment, which gradually destroys the level of mass consciousness of our common historical memory and tradition.
We must work together to put a reliable barrier to return the relations between our peoples and nations to a higher level of confidence.
We have to work, and we must give this work a new impetus and dynamism.
Thank you for your attention! 07.06.2011
