Richard Wagner on Andrukhovych and Ukraine

Author Richard Wagner criticises his Ukrainian colleague Yuri Andrukhovych, who has made serious accusations against Europe. "Andrukhovych has taken on the role of spokesman for his people. According to him, they have both the indivudual and collective right to EU membership and free access to the EU. These demands sound familiar; we often hear them from other poor countries with failed state concepts. The EU has only itself blame for being subjected to such demands. It was not a good strategy to equate the European Union with Europe following the events of 1989. Andruchovitch chooses to ignore the fact that neither Ukraine's society nor its economy nor even its institutions are anywhere near conforming to EU standards. His demands are based on the sensationalist statements made by one of his predecessors, Ivan Franko. This learned man said: 'We are also European'. But did he say what made Ukraine European?"

» more information (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » Society, » Ukraine
All available articles from » Richard Wagner

» To the complete press review of Wednesday, March 29, 2006