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The Difficulties Facing The Ukraine
A once proud and strong country The Ukraine is suffering, this is more the pity as the people of this country have much to offer and contribute to the world. It is not so much that the country is being mismanaged, but the fact it is seemingly not being managed at all. The only thing holding this country together seems to be the funcionaries and the bureaucrats at local level. It is as though the central government does not exist!
The country of Ukraine is a country of perplexing extremes. The capital Kyiv and some of the bigger cities seem to be flourishing, but visiting the smaller towns and villages is like going back in time. Life seems very basic and almost primitive. Does the Ukraine have the political will, or consensus to overcome its huge economic problems?
Firstly I should admit that my only qualification in looking at the situation within The Ukraine is that number 1 I am not Ukrainian and so have the perspective of impartiality and 2. I see a great nation of huge potential that seems to lack meaningful leadership. Why?
As a European, The Ukraine first came to my attention through its beautiful women, I do not apologise, I was single and with an internet connection it did not take long to discover this, but slowly I came to both admire and love the country. Something is wrong! There seems to be a complete lack of progress.
It does not take very long to realise that this was once an important country, the magnificent Architecture in the centre of the bigger cities bears testimony to this fact. Kyiv the capital is a wonderful suprise, it is a truly beautiful city and actually all the major cities of this country have their own attractions. As I say, my only qualification in writing this article is that I am not Ukrainian and through the eyes of a European the situation in this country seems to be frustratingly hopeless.
Four years ago there was a sense of optimism following the Orange revolution. It was the orange revolution, but it did not work, through egotism, or fundamental disagreements is not clear. This country does not appear to have had effective leadership, a functioning government since then. A long time.
This is a country with huge potential; many highly educated young people, a country of high moral values, rich in culture and history. The Ukraine is rich in both history and culture. The world famous Cossack dance for example. Did you know that this is a traditional Ukrainian dance?
Russia clearly invested heavily in The Ukraine during the days of the empire and left behind them a good basic infrastructure and many fine examples of Soviet Architecture, unfortunately it is some 16 years since the collapse of that system and so much of this investment has been neglected, that now the task of renewal, or upkeep is huge
The country is being run, is functioning from the bottom up. It is the functionaries, the beauracrats that are keeping this country going, albeit on a very basic level, but without this we are talking complete chaos, complete social breakdown.
During the period of the FSU there was much movement of peoples. Ukrainians moved to Russia and many Russians settled within The Ukraine. The south of The Ukraine in particular became very popular with the people of Russia and became a very popular summer holiday destination. This country is dual language. The fact that The country is effectively dual language seems to have added to the problems. I do not personally see what is the problem of a dual language country.
As an outsider it is very difficult to grasp, or understand, but since the “Orange revolution” there seem to have been a very small group of politicians competing for power. The different politicians tend to be either pro Russia, or pro the West, but according the daily lives of these people, nothing much improves, or changes. Nothing changes, very little improves and the impression, is of a political elite so busy with self survival, or inter rivalry that the country is being largely neglected
A small example, there is a bridge halfway down the country that spans the Dnieper river a huge river that runs from Russia and spills into The Black Sea. This bridge has been closed for 1 year! As with most of the infrastructure this bridge is a legacy from the Soviet times and most probably has seen little, or no investment since that period. This is a very important bridge, running through the centre of this country and the detour is 100,s of kilometres. It is difficult to understand the priority of the leadership that something so fundamental does not seem to be of great importance. What is high on the list of any military stategy in crippling and overcoming the economy and communication of a country? What will they first attack and seek to destroy? These guys do it to themselves?
The most frustrating part of all of the difficulties facing this country, from the point of view of an outsider is I do not understand what is the problem? Two language country? No problem. So we have those Ukrainians that are pro Russia and those that are pro Europe? Why should this be such a huge problem? Is not democracy a freedom of choice? A respect of differences?
To the president of this country Victor Yushchenko and the current Prime Minister Julia Tymoshenko, I say look at your country, look at your people, they are suffering and why? You have so much potential, you can and should be an important country, of huge intellectual, cultural and artistic influence. It is not so easy to understand why this great country is in such a sorry state?