Mykola Tomenko: The State needs a United Opposition: with Ukrainian Heart and European Mind
Mykola Tomenko, Deputy Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, delivered a speech at the meeting near the monument to Taras Shevchenko in Kyiv on the occasion of the Birthday of the Great Kobzar. He stated: "The situation is such that Ukrainian politicians visit the monument to Taras Shevchenko one at a time in good times, and all together in hard times. However, this bad tradition has a good aspect, as it grants a possibility for the democratic and patriotic political forces to unite".
"We have lately calmed down and believed that Shevchenko´s testaments are living, while Shevchenko´s places in Kaniv district have recently become covered with the enterprises of "resorial heroes of Ukraine" who make a fortune, building environmentally harmful factories on the way to Chernecha mountain", - M.Tomenko stated. According to the Deputy Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, it is a shame that President Viktor Yushchenko conferred the highest decorations, esp. "The Hero of Ukraine" title, to the directors of the holding company that established not only poultry farms, but also waste storages around Shevchenko´s places. (For reference: in 2009, "The Hero of Ukraine" title was conferred to Yurii Kosiuk, Chairman of the Board of "Myronivsky Khliboprodukt" JSC, and Yurii Melnyk, Minister of Agrarian Policy, considered as lobbyist of this campaign). "I believe that it is real popular heroes who came to pay honour to Taras Shevchenko today, not the "resorial heroes of Ukraine" that should set the example for the people", - he stated.
The Deputy Chairman stated that the democratic forces assumed different stands on accession of Viktor Yanukovych to power. "There are so-called "liberal patriots" willing to help Viktor Yanukovych for money, and "democratic patriots" ready to help for offices. However, I believe that real patriotism presupposes united opposition to defend Ukraine", - M.Tomenko stressed. He also stated that opposition should have both Ukrainian and European character: "Ukrainian heart, because one shall protect values, concepts and world-view of one´s own country, and European mind, as one shall suggest alternative projects, bills, decisions to prevent rejection of democratic principles of authority".
The Deputy Chairman is convinced that such a united Ukrainian-European opposition "can guarantee a successful development of our State". Mykola Tomenko stressed: "Moscow politicians have lately adopted a statement that every morning they and their admirers in our country should think what to do next with Ukraine, while we shall think every morning what else to do for Ukraine". He stated: "If we work for the sake of Ukraine every day, the following words of Taras Shevchenko will come true:
"Then
all the shame of days of old,
Forgotten, shall no more be told;
Then shall our day of hope arrive,
Ukrainian glory shall revive".