[Cz-L] Euromaidan

Daily events in the Ukraine develop so fast, that it is difficult to
keep up with the news.
We attended the meeting last Thursday and met Mr. Zissels shortly, he is
very proud of having set up the Museum of Jewish History in Czernowitz.
He spoke Russian to my husband, I could not quite follow.
There were 4 speakers, and we had an interpreter from Ukrainean and
English into German, the room was packed, and all speakers presented
their themes with great conviction. There were, as expected, quite a
lot of Ukraineans present.
Below I try to render the main issues discussed.

1. 30% of the country's income were in the hands of the Janukowitch
family and his oligarchs.
2. The social problems have increased over the past 4 years, culminating
in the protests which started last October.
Unemployment,inflation, salaries and pensions could not keep up with the
cost of living.
  Under Ianukovich Ukrainian language teaching in schools was reduced.
Very pro-Russian influence in the East.
3. And antisemitismus is not the big issue in the Ukraine according to
Zissels, who does professional research in this field. In the past year,
only 13 cases have been recorded. Also, there was a number of Jews who
took part in the uprising, 3 of them died.
4. Right extremists had a very low percentage in past elections (under
1%) but in Ianukowich's time he artificially brought them up to
ca. 10%, so that he could prove a kind of opposition.
Indeed, there were some right and left wing radicals who also took part
in the Maidan protests, and are now in the interim party, however they
represent a small group. In general, they don't have much support from
the population of Ukraine, it is estimated that Swoboda might geht only
about 3,5 percent and the right extremists only about 1,8 percent. To
enter in Parliament 5% are required.
Zissels also
The Russian anti-Ukraine and anti West-European propaganda is very
strong, and felt everywhere, especially in the East of the country.
A lot of rumours are spread, as for example that the Russian language
has been forbidden in the Ukraine. A Russian-speaking woman
protested against this apparent interediction, but Mr. Zissels strongly
denied this.
He also denied Putin's claim that the new interim government is mainly
made up of right and left wing extremists, neo-Nazis, antisemites, or
(inoficially) people with Jewish roots, and haters of everything
Russian. And that of course, it is all manipulated by the European
Union and America.
Zissels was very critical of the West. They have not really understood
what Putin should still do, before the West understands that the fight
is not about Ukraine, but that two world ideologies stand against each
other. On one side postmodern Europe, which relies only on treaties,
agreements and compromise, and on the other side Putin's Russia, which
relies only on power politics. For Zissels it is clear who keeps the
upper hand.
Moreover, he criticizes the OSCE. It is for him a totally inefficient
organzation, no-one in East Ukraine has yet seen an observer.
We were impressed by the vigour of Zissel' affirmations and his personality.
Gabriele

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Received on 2014-04-14 14:38:52