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DMITRY MEDVEDEV’S ADDRESS TO THE UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT

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VALERY CHALIY,
Deputy General Director of Ukrainian Razumkov Center for Economic and Political Studies, Kyiv

On August 11, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announced his decision to delay the arrival of the new Russian Ambassador in Ukraine. Dmitry Medvedev did it in the address to his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yushchenko.

In the diplomatic practice an address to the official, who is in charge of the state foreign policy (in Ukraine this is the President), is in effect the address to the Ukrainian people. So, such a division in the address is regarded in Ukraine as artificial, despite the fact that Yushchenko’s foreign policy is severely criticized in the country. And as an analyst I also expressed the criticism concerning the President’s foreign policy many times.

From the political point of view Medvedev’s address is a pretty tough demarche. And it’s regarded in such a way in Ukraine. Now the meaning as well as the form of Medvedev’s address is being actively discussed in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian experts don’t have common opinion. Some of them point out the correctness of some Medvedev’s arguments, which should be analyzed. But there are statements which are the direct intervention in the Ukrainian domestic affairs.

The fact that this address appeared exactly in August is not fortuitous. This falls on the active phase of the presidential campaign in Ukraine. Some Ukrainian politicians have already tried to take advantage of this address: some of them support the Russian President’s position, other say that there is a need to oppose him.

But such an address could have a boomerang effect for Russia. The statements about Kyiv’s anti-Russian policy could stir up the anti-Russian forces in Ukraine, including the presidential candidates sharing this position.

Thus, in my opinion, this address is very arguable in terms of achieving the goals. It is expected in Russia that if the regime in Ukraine is changed and then becomes more loyal to Moscow, Kyiv’s policy will change radically.

But, firstly, this expectation is strongly exaggerated. Foreign policy in Ukraine is shaped not only by the President, but also by the Parliament. Secondly, the form of the address could favour the consolidation of the anti-Russian forces in Ukraine.

I’d like to emphasize that one should seek the roots of such a form of the address in Russia not in Ukraine. I believe that in this connection new reshuffles will take place in Russia.

August 12, 2009




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