The Ukrainian Developing Nation!

It's been many years since I was in Russia to discuss the construction of a constitution for the Russian Federation of Independent States, some discussions in some of which I participated.  I'm lucky enough to be still living to see how these Independent States are faring.  The current struggle in the Ukraine over how close this Nation is to be tied to Russia is something that we had anticipated at that time.

That each federation state is a nation with independent status, to my mind, is a precious property--one that should be retained.  Negotiating with Russia to extend a strategic partnership relationship ought not mean giving up nor sacrificing the independent character of the Ukrainian people, for which right they voted in approving the new Constitution in 1991. 

I take it, should the Ukraine join the customs union the country would remove all passport controls, much as is essentially the case for a country in the E.U.  The question really is what does the Ukraine gain in so doing and what of its independence does it give up. From the EU's beginnings, it is true, a citizen of one member state could freely travel to any other.  The reason (I believe) for this fundamental free travel feature stems from a desire by the large states for cheap labor:  a citizen of one of the EU countries can migrate to any other in order to look for, or find work.  Now that the EU countries are experiencing a recession lasting for several years, the more prosperous states are seeking to restrict entry to migrant workers from the poorer states. 

But there's more to the EU.  It wants its own currency.  The UK has shied away from going along with this feaature.  Another--it is committed to remedying the financial deficits of member states.  Germany has tried to resist EU's pressure for its own country's wealth to help Greece and Spain maintain solvency.  I can't fathom that the Ukraine wants to get involved in Western European financial problems.  No, to my way of thinking, the EU is no answer.  Add to this how scandalously EU has treated Turkey's steps to join the EU, when I don't believe the EU has any intention to give it member status!

Now, there are international organizations that can be useful to the Ukraine, and maybe it already has sought help from them or belongs as a member state of some of them.  Best by far is the World Trade Organization (WTO).  This organization is dedicated to lower tariffs among its members.  While a member state may not have all its tariffs reduced, it sets up trade agreements with trading partners to economically benefit both the member country and its partners.  It is the case that the EU handles tariff reductions among member states, but be it observed, that the US trades with all European nations and does not belong to the EU!  It is also the case that the US belongs to several regional trading blocs whose purpose is to reduce tariffs among its members.  That the Ukraine may have a free-trade agreement with Russia ought not preclude, nor rule out, its making some free-trade agreement with another country anywhere else in the world!

There's the UN, which does monitoring of a country's internal elections; and has a distinguished record in this area.  There's the many international accounting firms that can be hired to systematically audit a country's financial systems.  These, I noted in my trips to Brazil, can be invaluable in handling issues pertaining to corruption in government.  For money, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has been designated principal agent to Eastern European countries.  But there's also the World Bank, useful, I have seen, in establishing new industries within a country.

The point I'm trying to make is that the Russian Federation of Independent States has permitted trade agreements among members in the Federation and permitted trade agreements of a member with those outside the Federation, even with EU member states. 

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An aside matter.  When I was in Russia, I was asked whether I thought large-scale emigration of Jews living in the Ukraine, particularly in Kiev, was a good idea.  Knowing that a new constitution was in the works in Russia, I thought Russia would find itself drained of an important educated, talent pool should that happen.  In the States a few years back, I saw a motion picture that depicted the plight of some immigrant Jews who were sent into the desert to work at a bottle factory.

You know, Malcolm-X, a black leader in the US, advocated for awhile the position that blacks of slave ancestory in the US should found their own country, somewhere in the South--a country where they could be themselves.  I'm glad that Malcolm-X changed his mind and they have worked together with whites and all other peoples in the US for justice and for unity among all.  The blacks in the US have done so much to promote peace and equal opportunity for all by being included amongst us and championing the cause of justice with us all: As is said in the streets of Detroit and in the streets of Memphis and in the streets of San Francisco, "We shall overcome!"