Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, deems intolerable to try to profit from the language, international and religious matters in the period of election campaign.
"Language issues, international and religious relations constitute a very sensitive field that requires a balanced approach, - stated V.Lytvyn on Tuesday, meeting Knut Vollebaek, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities. Politicians should not try to profit from the said issues".
According to V.Lytvyn, language situation in any country depends upon "the domestic state of affairs". "First and foremost, we should exert every effort to transform Ukraine into a powerful State in the economic, social and humanitarian fields", - he stressed. He also added that "it will settle the problems of Ukrainians abroad".
V.Lytvyn believes that representatives of all nationalities should enjoy the rights for unobstructed development of their culture, self-identity, and language. However, they should also respect the country of their residence.
In his turn, K.Vollebaek stated that during his visit he intended to study the situation regarding provision of educational and language rights of the national minorities in Ukraine, as well as the law enforcement of rights of the said category of population and representatives of deported nations who returned to Ukraine.
"Education and language are fundamental fields capable of enhancing the processes of integration", - stated K.Vollebaek. He also expressed his hopes that such survey would assist governmental institutions in their attempts to study the situation concerning provision of educational and language rights of minorities.
Within the scope of the visit, the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities intended to visit Simferopol, Donetsk and Lviv.
K.Vollebaek suggested that a round table discussion of the bill on restoration of rights of the deported nations be held in June-July.