Democracy Watch, 2011 - Issue 39

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) December 16, 2011 -- European Parliament puts the final ball in Ukraine’s court

The European Parliament has recommended that the Council of the European Union, the European Commission and the European External Action Service finalise the Association Agreement with Ukraine by the end of the year and sign the Agreement early next year. Members of the European Parliament condition the initialling of the Agreement on Ukraine guaranteeing implementation of reforms to protect human rights, secure democratic values and preserve the rule of law. Europe has been very positive about the Association Agreement with Ukraine and the liberalisation of the visa regime between Ukraine and the EU. It seems as if Europe is shifting the responsibility for the Ukraine-EU Summit, scheduled for the 19th of December, onto the government of Ukraine(1).

Surprisingly, the European Parliament has publically recognised that external forces have been attempting to influence Ukrainian leaders towards jeopardising relations with Europe. European MPs have stated for the first time that Russia has been putting pressure on Ukraine to prevent it from entering the Free Trade Area with the EU in order to secure the Customs Union with Ukraine, Belorussia and Kazakhstan(2). Konstantin Eliseev, a permanent representative of Ukraine to the EU, mentioned that the recommendations of the European Parliament enable steadfast political association and economic integration between Ukraine and the European Union. Ukrainian politicians assure that they are dedicated to achieving maximum results at the Summit regardless of Russia's integration projects.
(1) http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2011/12/1/6804213
(2) http://www.kommersant.ua/doc/1828696

People First Comment: The people of Ukraine want to be part of Europe. The business community of Ukraine recognise that as part of Europe their chances of a fair and level playing field are much stronger. The oligarchs are openly saying that the future of Ukraine lies in Europe. Even the people of Russia are saying that they want fundamental change, democracy, transparency and freedom. So just who is supporting the Kremlin’s idea of a closer union?

The only real beneficiaries of a closer Union with Russia will be the current political elite as this union will enable them to preserve their current ways and current revenue streams. The EU will demand change but Russia under its current leadership would allow the status quo to prevail… that is unless the people of Russia decide otherwise. In reality the old guard in both Russia and Ukraine are now under attack. The people of Russia have clearly expressed their displeasure at having their Duma election managed for them and it is very likely that the people of Ukraine will do the same come next October. Soon there will be nowhere for the Old Guard to hide

The EU are being very smart in pushing for the Free Trade Agreement as this will seal the fate of the Customs Union further weakening the Russian grip on the region and this combined with public dissent may well concentrate the minds of the Russian and Ukrainian leaderships on how to enable the future as opposed to preserving the past.

7th anniversary of the 'Orange Revolution': government resistance verses the apathy of the people

November 22nd was the date of the start of Orange Revolution and remains an official national holiday in Ukraine. The government has done everything in their power to prevent the remaining supporters from celebrating the anniversary of the Orange events. A court ruling banned any mass action on Independence Square on November 22nd whilst Kyiv administration ordered that the square be fenced off, citing a Christmas tree as the official explanation. At the same time Kalashnikov, a member of the Party of Regions, somehow was allowed to hold his own demonstration on Independence Square. There were more militia officers than ordinary people on the streets of Kyiv on Freedom Day. By the end of the day members of the public were even threatened with force. Stetskiv from 'Our Ukraine–People's Self-Defence Bloc' commented on these actions reflecting the government's intention to wipe the 'Orange Revolution' from the collective memory(3).

Nobody could imagine that 7 years after the 'Orange Revolution' Tymoshenko and Lutsenko would be in prison, Yuschenko would lose all support and Yanukovych would be President. History keeps calling upon Ukrainians to defend their civil rights, dignity and freedoms. Ex-President Viktor Yuschenko has noticed that Ukraine today faces similar issues to those that brought about the 'Maidan' demonstrations back in 2004(4). In the meantime the key heros of 'Orange Revolution', which is of course the people of Ukraine, have given up on all current politicians and might soon to choose their own political leaders.
(3) http://www.unian.net/ukr/news/news-467509.html
(4) http://gazeta.ua/articles/politics/_yuschenko-virishiv-zasteregti-vladu-vid-novogo-majdanu/410754

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