The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
Dear Ukrainians! I congratulate you on the great national holiday - Independence Day of Ukraine!
This is the first greeting of mine that does not include historical digressions. History and the past are of great importance, but the present time and the future of Ukraine are still more important to me.
I am convinced that the National idea means a powerful State. The State of ideological, cultural, intellectual, economic and military power. A powerful State stands for a physically and mentally healthy nation.
The present-day problems of Ukraine are not caused by its powerful opponents, but by a weak political elite incapable of raising our State. This political elite fails to understand its commitments before the State and the nation.
Ukrainians should not be concerned with the surnames of the leaders. They should be firmly convinced that the leaders profess Ukrainian values and the national idea irregardless of their surnames. Otherwise, they should not belong to Ukrainian political elite. The society should possess the mechanisms of control over the authorities, and the right to change the elite.
We should spare no effort in order to fill independence of our State with a true meaning for the sake of prosperity of Ukraine.
Best regards
Arseniy Yatseniuk