RFE/RL: 'Creeping Romanianization' in Ukraine

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Subject: RFE/RL: 'Creeping Romanianization' in Ukraine

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RFE/RL: 'Creeping Romanianization' in Ukraine



RADIO FREE EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY, PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
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RFE/RL Poland, Belarus, and Ukraine Report
Vol. 2, No. 42, 14 November 2000
 
A Survey of Developments in Poland, Belarus, and Ukraine by
the Regional Specialists of RFE/RL's Newsline Team
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UKRAINE

'CREEPING ROMANIANIZATION.' "Kievskie vedomosti" on 7 November
reported that a growing number of Ukrainians are applying for Romanian
citizenship in addition to their Ukrainian one. Romanian legislation
allows dual citizenship, while in Ukraine it is prohibited to have
citizenship of another country.

According to the newspaper, there are rumors in Ukraine that Romania,
by providing its citizenship to Ukrainians, is conducting a policy of
"creeping expansion" with the final aim of "reacquiring Northern
Bukovina [Chernivtsi Oblast] and Southern Besarabiya [part of Odesa
Oblast]," which belonged to the Romanian state before World War II.
Some Romanian parties, according to those rumors, are dreaming about
restoring a "Great Romania" that would include Moldova and the
above-mentioned parts of Ukraine. Some Ukrainian observers draw
attention to the fact that 300,000 Moldovans (including 50 percent of
Moldovan lawmakers) have already acquired Romanian citizenship.

The Romanian Embassy in Kyiv explained to "Kievskie vedomosti" that,
according to Romania's law on citizenship, Romanian citizenship may be
granted to "former Romanian citizens who were deprived of it before 22
December 1989 for various reasons... even in the event that they have
a different citizenship and do not intend to move for permanent
residence in Romania." The same rule applies to descendants of those
"former Romanian citizens."

According to the newspaper, Ukrainians apply for Romanian passports
primarily for economic reasons. "It is possible to obtain preferences
for small businesses [by holding such passports]. Besides, Romania has
a chance of entering the EU sooner than Ukraine, and then the Romanian
passport will become priceless, since it will open for its holder the
way to all Europe," "Kievskie vedomosti" wrote. "But for what purpose
does Romania need Ukrainian citizens?" the newspaper asked, without
answering that rhetorical question.

Some Ukrainian officials shrug off fears about Romania's "creeping
expansion" in Ukraine, arguing that the problem of the redivision of
state frontiers in Europe no longer exists. But others suggest that
the Helsinki Conference Final Act does not rule out separate regions
within countries holding referendums on joining one or another state.
"If Chernivtsi Oblast acquires a critical mass of Ukrainian-Romanian
citizens, might they not decide on one beautiful day - let's say, on
the day of Romania's accession to the EU - to become full-fledged
participants of that holiday?" "Kievskie vedomosti" wrote.

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*********************************************************
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"RFE/RL Poland, Belarus, and Ukraine Report" is prepared by
Jan Maksymiuk on the basis of a variety of sources including
reporting by "RFE/RL Newsline" and RFE/RL's broadcast
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