The future of Ukraine is the integration into the Customs Union

The deputy of the Kharkov regional council of the fifth convocation, the Party of Regions fraction, the chairman of Honour and Dignity Fund Igor Evgenyevich Massalov answers the questions of the Internet portal “The world and we”.

- Is the pro-Russian business in Ukraine focused on cooperation with Russia? What is its political influence? Does it support the entry of Ukraine in the Customs Union? What measures do his representatives intend to undertake in the relation of work activization in this direction?

Ukraine was the part of the USSR and all its economy was constructed in such a way that the considerable part of production made here, found the end in production made in Russia. This inertia still remained today and very many Ukrainian enterprises still work in cooperation with the Russian. Generally it is the large machine-building enterprises and military industrial complex. As for the whole series of the small enterprises – they aren't connected with the Russian Federation and make production on domestic market. The agricultural enterprises are especially interested in deliveries of production to the Russian market. Today the enormous turn is between Russia and Ukraine and the lion's share in it is made by agriculture production.

These enterprises are certainly interested in the development of the Russian-Ukrainian cooperation and the introduction in the Customs Union because considerable limits on export of the Ukrainian production will be lifted. Thus the fact of the entry of Ukraine and Russia in the WTO solved nothing on the substance - we have the various legislations protecting own industry. In Russia the system of protection of own economy is more seriously thought over and it works. Ukraine is completely disarmed in this sense. All that was connected with expectations about accession to WTO, practically didn't justify, nothing has changed – only became worse. Therefore the close cooperation with the Russian Federation and the introduction in the Customs Union is the only chance for Ukraine to restore that integration of economy which was in the USSR, naturally, having refused the branches which are unprofitable, noncompetitive. I think there is a future of the Ukrainian economy.

- How do the work which is carried out by public organizations of Russia and Embassy of Russia in Ukraine on maintenance of the Russian-speaking population and politicians, focused on entry of Ukraine into the Customs Union and Eurasian Union estimated in Ukraine?

The Russian foreign policy structures and also the public organizations work extremely insufficiently in this direction. In essence, the Russian-speaking population in Ukraine is thrown and provided to itself. The adaptation in Ukraine of the law of the Russian Federation about resettlement of compatriots can't be a solution of problem. People who live today in the Crimea, Odessa, Kharkov hardly will leave on the permanent residence to Buryatia, the Irkutsk region and even to Voronezh.

It is possible, of course, but the support of the Russian-speaking population living in Ukraine, support of the Russian World would be more effective. Today there is no this support. There are Russian organizations as “Rossotrudnichestvo” which invites to various seminars, meetings, but it is obviously not enough. Often these meetings bear more cultural effect. Though they are necessary, but more serious, purposeful work of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, consulates and the Russian public organizations thus is necessary.

In this regard especially it would be desirable to note the Russian structures which are the owners of the enterprises in the territory of Ukraine, for example the Russian banks. They don't influence a situation in any way and don't support the Russian state in strengthening of its positions in Ukraine. These financial and industrial structures are rather pro-Ukrainian, than pro-Russian, work in full accordance with the legislation of Ukraine and pursue only one aim in essence – to earn money in the territory of Ukraine. In my opinion, these structures of the Russian Federation, operating in the territory of Ukraine, have to change tactics and give various support to compatriots, the Russian-speaking population. Unfortunately, it doesn't occur today.

There is an impression that the Russian management has no thought-over strategy concerning Ukraine. Probably, it also exists, but we don't feel it. And at present it is extremely necessary – Ukraine could become a core of the Customs Union as it is a little one-sided in its present structure. Only at entry of Ukraine into it, it becomes really full-fledged economic and geopolitical structure. Therefore, in my opinion, the Russian management needs to pay the closest attention to the development and support of idea of cooperation and association, to support those people who are the leaders of development of the Ukrainian-Russian relations.

Sometimes it seems to me that the people living here and defending the pro-Russian positions are more Russian, than many Russians who live directly in Russia. Because there they have no competition, they don't feel how difficult to live to their compatriots here. And therefore they often carelessly treat the management, the government, those reforms which are carried out in the Russian Federation. On the other hand, they treat that occurs today in Ukraine with absolute indifference. I consider that this situation needs to be changed.

- How the further strengthening and concentration of the power at the group of influence connected with the President can affect the activity of the pro-Russian organizations?

Healthy forces in Ukraine refuse to understand what occurs today in the country from the point of view of the state and economic reforms. There are absolutely inconceivable associations of the state and power structures which are absolutely different in the orientation and the importance. For example, association of customs and tax service in the hands of the first Deputy Prime Minister Sergey Arbuzov, Fund of the state and social insurance. There are various projects of submission of border troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Emergency Situations to the Ministry of Defence. It is obvious that all these actions don't go on advantage to Ukraine. Those methods which are used at association of these structures, remind creation of some patriarchal and feudal state in Ukraine with concentration of all communications in hands of one person. I consider it as absolutely inadmissible fact. If we want to develop as the advanced economy and simply as the economy, all these reforms conduct to deterioration of position of the population and interfere with development of the state and its advance. Today other measures are necessary absolutely.

The country leaders have no clear positions about further ways of development. Where there are obvious benefits, they aren't considered. It concerns, first of all, the opportunities of the entry of Ukraine in the Customs Union. Forcible approach to the detriment of objective, realistic actions is most often carried out. Many people are in perplexity what occurs.

Naturally, it is favourable to Ukraine to unite with Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, to create the united market, to create strong and powerful association of the states. And already then as a part of this association Ukraine could enter the European Economic Community, that is fine prospect for further development of our brotherly states. But while the Ukrainian management shows extreme short-sightedness in these questions and doesn't start realization of these opportunities extremely favourable to Ukraine.

- What is your assessment of the activity of the foreign non-profit organizations and the various religious sects in Ukraine, directed on destruction of the friendly relations between the people of Ukraine and Russia?

The activity of sects and public organizations similar to them is directed on undermining the state security of the country. Their destructive activity is directed, first of all, against Orthodoxy. Between Russia and Ukraine there is very strong link – it is a united belief. Main goal of these sects is the destruction of Orthodoxy and its binding role between the states and also the creation of a certain general local church in which all unrecognized religious trends, for example, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev patriarchy, the Ukrainian autocephalous orthodox church and others have to join. If these plans would be carried out, the communication with Mother Church will be forever lost. Therefore I consider that the activity of various sects in Ukraine has to be forbidden.

As for non-governmental public organizations, often it is the direct helpers of development of various revolutionary situations in Ukraine. Activity of these organizations has frankly diversionary character. I consider that the activity of these organizations in the territory of Ukraine has to be legislatively limited.

- How do you estimate a situation in the Crimea, influence of Turkey and danger of destruction of the international world and also the policy of Poland, Hungary and Romania concerning the issue of passports of these countries to the Ukrainian citizens. Is a probability of territorial claims from these countries concerning Ukraine?

The ideological, creeping aggression against the Crimea proceeds from Turkey. The tool of this aggression is the Crimean Tatars. Certainly, the Crimean Tatar population has the right to live in the Crimea. But to all appearances there will be two governments in the Crimea – Majlis of the Crimean Tatar people and the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic Crimea. Management of the Crimea of two structures is an inadmissible situation. The observed rapid growth of the Crimean Tatar population can lead to a situation at which Ukraine will lose the Crimea. Unfortunately, in this direction the Ukrainian management has no thought-over policy.

As for the Russian influence on the Crimea, so it decreases. The inhabitants of the Crimea got used to living conditions in Ukraine – many, unfortunately, indifferently treat what occurs today in the Crimea. Except for, maybe, Sevastopol where the Russian influence is very strong in connection with the fleet which stay there. I think that there is some responsibility of Russia, shortcomings of carrying out the policy concerning the Crimea. The only thing that the inhabitants of the Crimea are glad is a large number of the vacationers coming from the Russian Federation. It, unfortunately, also limits the brotherly relations between the Crimea and Russia. The Russian influence in the Crimea constantly decreases and it is necessary to pay the closest attention to it.

As for actions from other adjacent states, Ukraine, unfortunately, doesn't possess opportunities to counteract them. They develop by itself and Ukraine doesn't accept a fate in this process – in this situation it is simply conducted and the active states such as Romania, Poland do what they want. If they want to issue passports, they give out and there are no any actions from the Ukrainian foreign policy department and government officials.

- Is the creation of the foreign public organization expedient uniting the citizens, been born or living in Ukraine before disintegration of the USSR?

In Russia there is already a certain organization “Ukrainian Congress of Russia”. In my opinion, it is necessary to go on the way of reunion of the united people, instead of it is simple to create separate cells in each country which will influence a situation here and there. At first there has to be absolutely clear position of heads of the states, foreign policy departments on this matter, the relevant documents have to be accepted, for example, the questions connected with the European charter about application of languages in the territory of Ukraine have to be put to a finish.

The Russian language has to be the state, but not the regional or semi-regional. Nothing has changed with the law adoption about regional languages – neither teaching at schools, nor quantity of the Russian classes, neither signs, nor advertising on television. Everything remained in the Ukrainian language. This law gave nothing. In essence it is any concession and it is unclear why this law was adopted in general. It is necessary to go only on the way of adoption of law on which the Russian language will be the state. If the leadership of Ukraine has no clear position, it is necessary to ask the people, to hold a referendum and to legalize its results. The will of the population should be executed. Only thus, by creation of united space of the Russian world, association of the Russians and Ukrainians it is possible to reunite the divided people. We won't solve this fundamental problem by only creation of certain structures which will work there or here.

In many respects the introduction of the Russian language in Ukraine, its legalization depends on actions of the leadership of the Russian Federation. The Russian is the official language of the UN, official language of CIS countries and, naturally, it has to be a state language of Ukraine. On the basis of adoption of such decision it is possible to build all other relations. The Russian as the state has to become a dominant in the activity of the leadership of the Russian Federation in relation to Ukraine. In my opinion, the really protection of the compatriots living in the territory of Ukraine, the Russian-speaking, the Russian cultural people also can be expressed. After all today they are more than 70% in the country. Despite all efforts of the Ukrainian promotion, despite efforts of the previous management in Ukraine, the Russian language is dominant and it is necessary to recognize its status officially, at legislative level.