Ukraine in European Community and Russian Federation ‘Tug-of-War’

Evhen Czolij, President of the Ukrainian World Congress spoke to a full house on Thursday, December 8, 2011 talking about developments in Ukraine in democracy, rule of law, energy independence and integration into the European Community (EC). At times, he painted a rather bleak picture in several areas, including increased pressure on many fronts from Russia to slow down or have Ukraine abandon the process of joining European political and economic structures.

Over 100 people gathered at the Ukrainian National Federation Trident Hall in Toronto to hear Mr. Czolij talk about the representational activities of the Ukrainian World Congress in Ukraine, the European Parliament, numerous capitals and Ukrainian Diaspora communities around the world. The event, organized by Ukrainian Credit Union Limited (UCU), also served as an impromptu fund-raising opportunity which saw over $24,000 raised by the end of the evening, with UCU leading the way.

The Congress focused most of its attention this year on getting Ukraine and the European Parliament to initial the agreement on EU associate membership for Ukraine. The issue is particularly pressing as two countries, keen on seeing Ukraine fully committed to a European future, currently control key positions in European institutions. Poland holds the Presidency of the EC and Lithuania heads up the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Both of their mandates expire on December 31, 2011. The countries taking over, Denmark and Ireland, do not have as much to gain or lose if Ukraine falls deeper into the orbit of the Russian Federation.

“On December 1, the European Parliament passed a resolution calling on both sides to bring this to a speedy conclusion, preferably before the end of December,” said Mr. Czolij. In the resolution, the European Parliament also warned Russia not to put undue pressure on Ukraine and resolved not to enter into a trade pact with the Russian Federation if Moscow chooses to ignore the warning. However, Mr. Czolij did not hold out too much hope that Ukraine would rush to take up the European offer.

He also condemned the assault on human rights and the rule of law in Ukraine. “The Tymoshenko trial is a judicial farce,” he said by way of example. And he attacked Ukraine’s current backsliding into a totalitarian system of governance. However, he said that it is important to separate, especially in the eyes of European politicians and opinion leaders, the actions of the current government from the interests of the Ukrainian population, and from those of Europe.

“We have to keep framing the question in terms of ‘what will be better for both Europe and Ukraine in ten years from now, regardless of which party is running Ukraine’s government?’ The clear answer is that it is much better for both sides that Ukraine becomes integrated into European structures,” said Mr. Czolij. “That does not mean turning a blind eye to the gross violations of human rights in Ukraine. We must continue to oppose all such violations as vigorously as ever.”

In a meeting with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych earlier this year, Mr. Czolij tried to appeal to his desire to leave a legacy. “I told him ‘You will be judged very poorly by the historians,’… No one will give a good rating to a leader who turned back the clock on democratic reforms.” And yet for all of Yanukovych’s faults… he has done no worse than any other of Ukraine’s modern presidents.

“No President of Ukraine, not Kravchuk, not Kuchma, not Yushchenko, not Yanukovych, has ever taken up seriously trying to solve the problem of Ukraine’s energy reliance on the Russian Federation.” Mr. Czolij’s unspoken point being that Ukraine’s geo-political and geo-strategic position in the world will not magically disappear with a cuddlier President. Therefore, anything Ukraine can do to tie itself closer to Europe gives it some leverage to ward off pressure from Moscow.

“Above all though, we should remember that despite the current government’s recidivism, Ukraine is still a much more democratic country than its neighbour Russia.” That alone is enough to give him hope that recent changes for the worse in Ukraine can still be reversed at the polls.

Mr. Czolij went on to talk about the insidious ways the Russian Federation “accepts” Ukraine’s independence, all the while using every possible means at its disposal to propagate the idea that Ukrainians are part of one indivisible “Russkiy Mir” with their neighbours in Russia. One example he used is that of Patriarch Kiril, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, coming to Ukraine repeatedly, seven times in just two years, to warn Ukrainians that they would be condemned to Hell if they continued to worship in the churches of what he termed the “schismatic” Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate.

Mr. Czolij’s message to the audience was clear. Only by continuing to apply pressure (much as Russia does) to Ukraine’s government, to Europe’s leaders and even here in Canada, can the Ukrainian diaspora hope to have any influence on affairs in Ukraine. He recommended not only relying on our community groups to apply that pressure, but for all concerned individuals to write letters to Yanukovych or lobby Members of Parliament to ensure that Canada continues its actively engaged relationship with Ukraine.

At the end of the evening, Mr. Czolij was presented with over $24,000 in donations to the Ukrainian World Congress to continue its important work. UCU Board Chair Eugene Roman and Vice Chair Annie Mischchenko presented Mr. Czolij with a cheque for $10,000. UNF Toronto President Slawko Borys and UNF Toronto-West President Petro Kowalczyk each delivered a cheque for $1,000. The UNF of Canada donated another $500, as did UNF Sudbury Branch, whose president Michael Maciuk was unable to attend, but stated: “[we] want the World Congress and President Evhen Czolij to know that we support their hard work on behalf of Ukraine’s people and Ukrainian communities around the globe.”

Over $11,000 was also donated by the people who attended the event. In his thank you for their generosity, Mr. Czolij underscored the importance of Ukrainian financial institutions to the health of the Ukrainian diaspora. “The Ukrainian credit unions in Canada and America are what make the work of the Ukrainian World Congress possible. Without their generous financial support, we would not be able to meet our annual budget,” he said, “so I encourage you to think about that next time you are wondering where to deposit your savings or where to get a mortgage.”

Mr. Czolij was elected as President of the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) for a five-year term in 2008. Outside of his work for the Ukrainian world community, Mr. Czolij is a senior partner at one of Quebec’s largest legal firms, Lavery, de Billy where his practice includes corporate and commercial litigation. He is the President of Caisse populaire Desjardins Ukrainienne de Montral and a member of the Council of Representatives, Montral-Est of the Fdration des caisses Desjardins du Qubec.

PHOTOS

1 – UWC President Evhen Czolij (centre), UCU Board Chair Eugene Roman (right) and Vice Chair Annie Mischchenko (left)

2 – Attentive audience at Evhen Czolij’s talk on democracy in Ukraine

3 – UWC President Evhen Czolij (centre) receives donation from UNF Toronto-West President Petro Kowalcyk (right) and UNF Toronto President Slawko Borys (left)