Десять запитань до прем'єр-міністра Юлії Тимошенко

Replies to Some Commentators on This Discussion. Poky shcho in the world's and the internet's official English. I will try and send a Ukrainian version. Ukrainian or Russian replies are welcome but remember this is holiday season!

1. I was born in Britain of mixed parents: Ukrainian and Italian. This was quite common in Britain (the largest Ukrainian diaspora in Western Europe) as most of the post-1945 Ukrainian immigration were either soldiers (Polish, Ukrainian or Canadian armies) or slave labourers (like my father). There are many mixed marriages with Italians, Irish, Austrians and Bavarians – all Catholics as most of the Ukrainian immigrants were from Western Ukraine. Is Canada and the USA a "more traditional diaspora"? I would not agree. Britain had the most right wing, working class, one-party rule of the Ukrainian diaspora. There were few intellectuals, businessmen and professional people among the Ukrainian diaspora (unlike in North America) where there was also political pluralism. In the British Ukrainian diaspora we had one party rule. I have not lived in the Ukrainian "ghetto" in Britain since 18 when I left home for University and this, plus being a prolific writer on Ukraine for non-Ukrainian outlets and forums, means I am therefore more integrated into the global world.
2. I am not surprised more men support YT than women. Her personality of combativeness and self confidence is attractive to men, rather than women. In opinion polls on conflict and war women always come out as supporting less aggressive actions than men. Whether one likes or dislikes YT is undoubtedly a reflection of what kind of qualities one wants to find in a politician. I grew up under Margaret Thatcher and liked her self confidence, determination and political will. Maybe this influences my choice. In the Yushchenko-Tymoshenko relationship there are many angles. First of all, Yushchenko's lack of self confidence and leadership skills. He cannot deal with strong leaders whether they are YT or Yan. And in a parliamentary system there will always be a Prime Minister who is party leader which will be a problem for Yushchenko who prefers a pliant technocat that is only possible under a presidential system. Yushchenko is a management type that would only hire sycophants to work under him. Second, undoubtedly one factor in the conflict is Kateryna who loathes YT for many reasons, some of which are obvious.
3. Who is working with Russia to keep Ukraine dependent on Russian energy? Ukraine could easily and successfully deal with Russian energy pressure using three factors it controls: pipelines through which 80% of Russian gas is exported, gas storage and WTO membership. That Ukraine cannot use these 3 levers to offset Russian pressure is because of deep corruption in the energy sector that involves a large proportion of Ukraine's elites. Ask the president about his brother. The sooner that Ukraine pays "market prices" for gas then there will be no RosUkrEnergo intermediary and the avenues for corruption will be significantly reduced.
4. Vanco: a confusing and complicated issue that I doubt we will ever find the full truth. Vanco are a financial contributor to Bush's election campaigns and therefore it is not surprising that the Bush administration would support Vanco in its contractual disputes. Is Kateryna involved? I do not know but as a former American-Ukrainian who tend to support the Republicans she could be. I would be careful though in calling her an "American". She has lived in Ukraine since 1991 and to all the American-Ukrainians talk to she is more post-Soviet Ukrainian, than Western. They (and this includes those she worked with in Washington in the 1980s) feel she "has gone native" and they are very disappointed in her antagonism to YT and in her inability to have a positive pro-Western influence on the president.
Taras Kuzio
(bez sharovarnykh indulgentsii)