PETRO: Yes. I think that's right. And it's very easy for both sides--I mean the
Kievan government, as well as Moscow--to claim that they are supporting the
rights of all in insisting that there be equal treatment of all. The question
is: who do people in the country actually believe has their interests at heart?
And here I think we do have a difference of opinion region by region, although
I don't think there is strong support anywhere, except maybe in Crimea, for
outright secession to Russia.
And in that sense I think it's incorrect to describe the people that have been depicted in the media, in Western media as secessionists or pro-Russian. They're really not. That's an extreme option for them. Their first demand is actually federalism. So I think they're most appropriately called Ukrainian federalists.
DESVARIEUX: So if they were to get what they want with this federalism, for you, what would that look like? Are we talking about what Quebec looks like to Canada? What's your take?
PETRO: Well, that would be a good option, I think, an interesting one. But there really is no single formula for federalism. The one thing that defines a federal structure of government is a negotiated relationship between regions and the central government and the fact that that particular relationship is then enshrined in the Constitution. That's why, for the federalists in the East, they are reluctant to accept the offers from Kiev of simply greater autonomy, because they're fearful that without that autonomy being enshrined in the Constitution, it may be rescinded at some later point, because these sorts of promises of greater local authority, respect for language rights, have been made repeatedly in the past and then not been fulfilled.
DESVARIEUX: Alright. Nicolai Petro, joining us from Ukraine, thank you so much
for being with us.
PETRO: Thank you.
DESVARIEUX: And, of course, you can follow our stories @therealnews, and feel free to Tweet me questions or comments @Jessica_Reports.
And in that sense I think it's incorrect to describe the people that have been depicted in the media, in Western media as secessionists or pro-Russian. They're really not. That's an extreme option for them. Their first demand is actually federalism. So I think they're most appropriately called Ukrainian federalists.
DESVARIEUX: So if they were to get what they want with this federalism, for you, what would that look like? Are we talking about what Quebec looks like to Canada? What's your take?
PETRO: Well, that would be a good option, I think, an interesting one. But there really is no single formula for federalism. The one thing that defines a federal structure of government is a negotiated relationship between regions and the central government and the fact that that particular relationship is then enshrined in the Constitution. That's why, for the federalists in the East, they are reluctant to accept the offers from Kiev of simply greater autonomy, because they're fearful that without that autonomy being enshrined in the Constitution, it may be rescinded at some later point, because these sorts of promises of greater local authority, respect for language rights, have been made repeatedly in the past and then not been fulfilled.
PETRO: Thank you.
DESVARIEUX: And, of course, you can follow our stories @therealnews, and feel free to Tweet me questions or comments @Jessica_Reports.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
