His Beatitude Sviatoslav: "Today each Ukrainian has to ask himself: do I recognize myself as a Ukrainian or as an Asian?"

Saturday, 12 January 2013, 13:09

When it comes to the Customs Union, the question is not only about the economic integration, but about the integration of Ukraine into the Eurasian political, cross-national and cultural space. Therefore each Ukrainian has to ask himself today: do I recognize myself as a Ukrainian or as an Asian?"

This was reported by the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, His Beatitude Sviatoslav (Shevchuk) in an interview with the newspaper "The Day" on the 11^th of January, when responding to the question: "Viktor Yanukovych makes it clear that Ukraine, within the Customs Union, is likely, to appear. Entirely, partially or more than partially. If our country will happen to appear within the Customs Union, where do you see then a place for the UGCC and for its faithful?".

The Head of the Church, in his response, emphasizes that the issue of the Customs Union covers several important components. "First of all - he says - as you know, the only free cheese is in the mousetrap. In today's world, hoping that someone will just provide us with the assistance is an illusion. This concerns the cooperation with any neighbor. We, Ukrainians, should trust only ourselves and God's help, and not the free assistance to our existence at somebody else’s expense".

He also draws attention to the fact that there is a social model of authoritarianism behind the Customs Union. "If we are striving to defend our democratic values in Ukraine, we have to look for another community", - convinces the Head of the Church.

His Beatitude Sviatoslav believes that issues, which are related to civilization choice, are to be widely discussed within the society. As for today, he says, there is a serious lack of the dialogue between the authorities and the society. Once, the issue of Ukraine joining NATO was discussed within the community in such a detail that people started to talk about the nation-wide referendum. The issue of the Customs Union should be put to the same high level.

The Head of the Church turns attention to the fact that "the representatives from the authority have never said that the prospect for the European integration is crossed. If it is actually crossed, it should be honestly reported to the society. If not, it is necessary then to be consistent. "

UGCC Department of Information