Keeping the door open
Last week's dissolution of the Ukrainian Parliament by Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, and his call for elections on May 27, encountered fierce objections on the part of the Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, who rejected the President's decision. The recent political turmoil inevitably brings back memories of the Orange Revolution, and a dispute over the fairness of elections of pro-Western Yushchenko and pro-Russian Yanukovych.
In 2004, Poland's active involvement in the mediation process contributed greatly to a peaceful solution but irritated Russia, who felt its political influence in the region was threatened.
It seems that Polish officials are still seen as potential peacemakers in the conflict, as Yanukovych appealed to Austria, Russia and Poland for mediation. President Lech Kaczyński agreed to help but on the conditions that both sides ask for arbitration. "It is good when both sides of the conflict issue such an appeal," opines Andrzej Maciejewski, a political analyst from The Sobieski Institute, a multi-disciplinary center for analysis. "Otherwise, it would be seen as meddling in the internal affairs of Ukraine," he says.
The prospect of mediation raises questions about the role of former President Aleksander Kwaniewski, one of the key actors in the peaceful resolution of the 2004 crisis, and who is attempting a political comeback. "It would be good if both Lech Kaczyński and former presidents would consult and speak with one voice," says Maciejewski, "However, it is Lech Kaczyński who is the president now and it is he who should play the main role in the process."
Maciejewski adds that Polish policy towards Ukraine should remain pro-active, although not too aggressive. He says Poland needs to continue doing what it is doing and not worry about Russian voices against Poland in the Ukrainian region. He states that it is proper information that Ukrainian society needs most at the moment, and Polish initiatives are very valuable in this area. "We need to keep the door open for Ukraine," Maciejewski concludes.
