Mykola Tomenko: Language Initiatives of the Party of Regions contradict Social and National Interests of Ukraine
Within the scope of the International Mother Language Day, celebrated yesterday, Mykola Tomenko, Deputy Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, dwelled upon the topical language issue. He is convinced that political forces will initiate introduction of amendments to the effective language legislation of Ukraine regarding extension of the official use of the Russian language and its status as the second State language.
M.Tomenko believes that "present traditional order fixed by the Constitution of Ukraine meets the social and national interests of Ukraine". Pursuant to the Constitution, The State language of Ukraine shall be the Ukrainian language; free development, use, and protection of Russian and other languages of national minorities of Ukraine shall be guaranteed in Ukraine.
"This legislative language model protects the language freedom of citizens´ personal life and guarantees respect for the mother language. Language is not merely a means of communication, but a basic tool of self-identification", - the Deputy Chairman believes.
M.Tomenko disapproves of the approach suggested by certain political forces that authorizes the authority bodies to determine the language policy in a corresponding region. "This model could have been implemented, if Ukraine had been a federal State", - the politician stressed. He supposes that if the second language is made official in any region, it will result in the death of Ukrainian language. Thus, he believes that "Ukrainian politicians shall understand importance of the status of Ukrainian as the State language, especially in the sphere of education and public authority".