About like-minded people, <I>Den</I> and Ukraine

Among’s contributors are people without whom our newspaper is unthinkable. Both our reader and the editors look forward to their articles, considering that each one is a top quality text that evokes a vivid public response. Yurii Shcherbak doubtlessly ranks with such contributors. His kudos are awe-inspiring: a Ph.D. in medicine, a member of the Writers’ Union of Ukraine, an ecologist, politician, and a noted career diplomat. Such people are acknowledged as the great authorities and sages of a given nation.

On Monday, October 12, Yurii Shcherbak celebrated his 75th anniversary. Any young person would envy his energy and dedication. His daily schedule is in terms of minutes, yet he always finds time to give an interview to Den’/The Day.

Dr. Shcherbak, how do you feel about the anniversary of your birth? What are you thinking about these days? What brings you joy or anxiety?

“Strange as it may seem, I’m in a working mode. The reason, of course, isn’t the coming anniversary but this luxurious weather. The fall has of late been my best working period. Analysis remains on top of my agenda, in terms of politics, international situation, and Ukraine’s national security. I’m deeply concerned about these issues, and this is what I’ve been striving to emphasize in my articles for Den’/The Day.

“There is also a great deal of work to be done at the Academy of Ecological Sciences — it was founded as decreed by the President of Ukraine. Several of us, AES academicians, are making the arrangements for this academy to start actually functioning. We’re working out what our areas of research trends will be.

“I’m also working on a book that will be made up of my articles, mainly the ones I’ve contributed to Den’/The Day over the past five years. The book’s tentative title is “Ukraine on the Eve of its Future.” Of course, it will include articles dealing with the past (for example, the Holodomor and Chornobyl), but for the most part this book will offer a view on the international situation, with regard to Ukraine, its geopolitical positions, and prospects.”

Talking of your analysis, how do you feel about Petro Poroshenko’s appointment as the minister of foreign affairs? Will this Verkhovna Rada’s resolution affect Ukrainian policy in any way?

“I welcome this resolution — not only because I have known Petro Poroshenko as a man of wisdom, but also because we seem to have finally started drifting apart from the Soviet practice of assigning this post to career diplomats. We have the rather successful European and US practical experience, when this post is assigned not to a career diplomat — who must have climbed all the way up the ladder — until he is made Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Secretary of State — but a political figure, an individual who can bring his world outlook into conformity with that of the foreign political course of his government. I mean people who can add their vision to the foreign political domain, who are not bound by political party affiliations, who are not accustomed to exercising their daily red tape.

“In addition, the foreign minister’s post must be occupied by a tangible, self-sufficient, independent figure, someone capable of keeping his distance from any politicking affairs. Every time I’m told that Poroshenko is an economist, that he will be no good in handling Ukraine’s foreign affairs, I respond, ‘What do you think the rest of the world is doing except struggling to overcome the consequences of the world financial crisis?’ I might also add that Poroshenko can’t possibly arouse any negative feelings; he is a tolerant political figure with a balanced approach to things. I think he will succeed in finding a common language with various partners.”

Your recent contributions to Den’/The Day triggered an avalanche of comments from our readers and experts. Where do you find like-minded people? Who are all those you can identify with yourself after exchanging a couple of words with them?

“Let me tell you that there are few like-minded people, although I do believe that there are such people all over Ukraine. As for such like-minded individuals, I would like to mention several names, in the first place Volodymyr Horbulin, a man I hold in esteem. He used to work as a national security adviser to the president of Ukraine. This man played a major role in the formation of a national security network. He is only too well aware of the current alarming situation in Ukraine, in view of Russia’s imperial encroachments on Ukraine’s independence and attempts at transforming it into a protectorate of sorts. This issue must be placed on the public agenda and discussed loud and clear.

“I respect and admire Yevhen Marchuk. This man is a living example of a wise politician. His understanding of Ukraine’s domestic situation and national interests is absolutely adequate. As the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (RNBO), he accomplished a great deal for Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic development vector to be legislatively fixed.

“I also revere Valerii Chaly, an outstanding analyst and deputy director general of the Razumkov Analysis Center. This man is versed in international politics and takes a constructive, balanced stand. I’m further impressed by the speeches made by Oleksandr Sushko and political analyst Oleksandr Lytvynenko. There are many people at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine who can boast independent ways of thinking concerning Ukraine’s domestic and foreign problems; these people should be placed in the front ranks. Our state should pay closer attention to such people, their world outlooks, and proposals. Futhermore, it should listen to civic, nongovernmental organizations, because they can make a precious contribution [to our national cause]. I hope that Poroshenko, now a minister, will put this Ukrainian civic potential to good use.”

I’m sure that our readers and Den’s experts’ club will join me in wishing you many happy returns of The Day. It is hard to see our newspaper without your regular contributions.

“Thank you. Let me tell you something: I feel extremely grateful to Den’/The Day for the role it has played in my life. I will never forget my return home, after having spent decades serving abroad, and the way I felt: a stranger in my homeland. I didn’t know what to do in order to adjust to the new [domestic] realities. It was during that painful period that Den‘s editor in chief Larysa Ivshyna invited me to visit her office. There I met with her journalists in a friendly atmosphere that inspired me and gave me to understand that there were people who remembered and respected me, for whom I was still alive as a writer and journalist. I have since actively contributed to Den’/The Day. Ever since your newspaper has been an indispensable component of my life.”