"Krimskii studii": Leonid Kravchuk on Crimean Tatars
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Subject: "Krimskii studii": Leonid Kravchuk on Crimean Tatars
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"Krimskii studii": Leonid Kravchuk on Crimean Tatars
Turkistan Newsletter - Turkistan Bulteni -
Tue, 7 Mar 2000 20:59:36
ISSN:1386-6265
#1. WE WILL LIVE TOGETHER IN THE UKRAINIAN STATE
Leonid Kravchuk First President of Ukraine (from "Krimskii studii"
no.1)
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#1. WE WILL LIVE TOGETHER IN THE UKRAINIAN STATE
Leonid Kravchuk
Member of Ukrainian Parliament
First President of Ukraine
The first issue of a new magazine called "Krimskii studii" has been
published. It is designed to familiarize readers both in Ukraine and
abroad with the lives, problems, hopes and aspirations of the Crimean
Tatars, a people with a hard and tragic lot, who are attempting to
rebuild their lives on ancestral lands in an independent Ukraine.
Only a person who has himself experienced the violence, abuse, and
indignity of the Crimean Tatars can understand their feelings in full
measure. The historical destinies of the Ukrainian and the Crimean
Tatar peoples have a lot in common. For many centuries, both peoples
were suffering under the Russian Crown. In the 1930s and 40s, during
the period of Soviet power, both suffered the loss of their
intellectuals and the destruction of their national shrines in the
Soviet fight against so-called "nationalism". Ukrainians and Crimean
Tatars should remember their joint history, both the good and the bad.
For many centuries the Crimean Tatars had close contacts with
Ukrainians. However, Soviet histories kept this shared history secret
and presented a false picture of those contacts. All bright aspects of
the relationship were thoroughly suppressed, highlighting the worst:
raids, devastation, pillaging, and slavery.
However, the historical fact remains that during the struggle for the
liberation of the Ukrainian people, headed by Bohdan Khmelnytsky,
Crimean Tatars fought jointly with Cossacks in many battles against
Polish troops. Bohdan Khmelnytsky spent his younger years in Crimea,
spoke the Crimean Tatar language fluently, and was considered a blood
brother of a Crimean Khan's son. The correspondence of Bohdan
Khmelnytsky with the Crimean Khan, written in the Crimean Tatar
language, are still kept in the London Library. Perhaps these
historical documents will return to Ukraine some day, and become a
shared legacy of our peoples.
There is no guilt on the part of the new Ukrainian nation or the
Ukrainian people in the Crimean Tatar's tragedy. The Communist rulers
of former USSR are responsible for these atrocities. In May 1944, the
lie of Lenin's so-called national policy became apparent when the
total deportation of Crimean Tatars from their historical homeland was
carried out in three days to live in exile "forever and with no right
to return to the former residence" as described in CPSU documents.
To justify this outrageous crime, the entire Crimean Tatar people were
branded as "traitors and the collaborators with the Nazi invaders".
The Tatars, whose daughters and sons bravely fought against the Nazis,
were insulted and humbled. Many who were deported had been awarded the
title "Hero of USSR".
It would be good if today's Communists, as inheritors of the history
of the CPSU, would have the bravery to take responsibility for the
Communist insults and violations of the rights of the Crimean Tatars,
or even better, to apologize for this injustice.
Over the deportation years, every trace of the Crimean Tatar people
was destroyed in Crimea; cemeteries, mosques, religious schools, etc.
Many towns and villages were renamed.
Only with Ukrainian independence was started a new page in the history
of the Crimean Tatars. Ukraine has, and continues to strive to do
everything possible to somehow compensate the Crimean Tatars for the
moral anguish caused by the actions of the Communist regime. The
Crimean Tatars have returned to their ancestral land to stay forever.
They live and work in the Ukrainian State as citizens, enjoying full
rights. It is possible to state unequivocally that the Crimean Tatars
have been reinstituted within the Ukrainian State.
In the beginning of our independence we believed that we could
promptly overcome all difficulties. In that period, we were
enthusiastic and a little bit naive. We wanted to do everything to
speed up the process of the Crimean Tatars' return and resettlement in
their homeland. However, reality proved to be greatly more
complicated. The issues we face in the areas of socio-economic and
cultural-educational areas are complicated. Much work must still be
done to provide people with opportunities in the way of jobs, wages,
and pensions. Ukraine is in a very complicated economic condition; in
connection with this, the solution of many of the issues faced by the
Crimean Tatars depends on the resources available to the State.
However, there are a number of important issues facing the Crimean
Tatars whose resolution doesn't require financing, only good will and
understanding. In particular, an important step has been made toward
the restitution of the Crimean Tatars' Ukrainian citizenship. As a
result of negotiations between the Presidents of Ukraine and
Uzbekistan, a protocol agreement on simplifying the procedure for
Crimean Tatars' to give up their Uzbek citizenship was signed.
I think that the issue of proportional representation of Crimean
Tatars in the Crimean Parliament will be solved. It is necessary to
study these issues, taking into account relevant international
experience. Everything must be done on a legal, constitutional basis,
without infringing on the rights of any National Minorities.
There is very complicated ethnic situation in Crimea, in which live a
lot of nationalities. Currently, Crimean Tatars constitute about 11
percent of the population of Crimea. Recognizing the necessity for
historical justice, a solution must be found which does not create new
injustices new opposition forces.
If radical solutions to this complicated issue were pursued, it would
be hard to predict the future situation in the peninsula, and its
impact on Crimean Tatars.
All of us - Ukrainians, Russians, Crimean Tatars and other
nationalities living in Crimea, must take into account the conflicts
in Caucasus, Balkans and other regions in the world, and demonstrate
wisdom in recognizing the fact that inter-ethnic problems require a
patient and well thought out solution.
We should keep in mind the significance of the Ukrainian language for
Crimean Tatars as well. In Ukraine, Crimean Tatars who do not know
the Ukrainian language cannot see themselves as citizens enjoying full
rights in future. In Crimea, the situation regarding the teaching of
the Ukrainian language is well known. In this case, the Ukrainian
Government must pursue a clear and well-articulated policy. The
Constitution of Ukraine must be observed, which says that the official
language of Ukraine is Ukrainian and its teaching must be dynamically
implemented.
I am convinced that Crimean Tatars rely on Ukraine to give them hope
for the solution of their issues. At one recent meeting was said: "We
believe Ukraine fought for many centuries for freedom and
independence, and at last, has achieved this goal. We are sure that
such a freedom-loving nation, which has sacrificed millions of its
sons and daughters for freedom, will not prevent the national
self-determination of other peoples". Crimean Tatars are a people
indigenous to Ukraine, and occupy a rightful place both in Crimea and
in Ukraine as a whole.
I, as the first President of Ukraine and a person participating in the
adoption of important decisions on the return of Crimean Tatars to
their historical Homeland as well as the establishment of Crimean
autonomy, and relations of independent Ukraine with Russia and other
members of the CIS, must note, that in that difficult time we acted
wisely and without straying from a carefully planned course.
Upholding the principles of liberty, independence, and democracy with
an eye towards Europe, I would like to appeal to the Mejlis of the
Crimean Tatars that it is necessary to examine the current state of
affairs on the peninsula, and to look for the ways and means to
improvement the situation. Though the Constitutions of Ukraine and
Crimea are not perfect, we cannot attempt to live under other laws. It
is necessary to improve these foundations, rather than disregard them.
We must rectify the admitted mistakes jointly, along with the entire
world.
These desires cannot be satisfied, however, without the appropriate
preconditions. The most important thing at this stage is to prevent
unnecessary clashes and social discord. We have started creating
Ukraine's statehood in a prudent and tolerant way, and must keep to
this path in the future.
--
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