A Ukrainian-Canadian reacts to Yushchenko governmental changes

By Aussiegirl

The following letter to the editor sheds some light on the meaning of the recent chagnes in Yushchenko's government:

Dear Editor,

As bad as the news seems, Yuscvhenko axes government as Orange coalition unravels, by Graeme Smith,Globe & Mail Sept 9, 2005, there is also good news.

For Ukraine's President Yuschenko, the axing provides a clean slate to appoint competent people: he is done with rewarding election backers. Also, his move signals a strong and long awaited stand against corruption.

Furthermore, an independent block of candidates led by the much-loved ex PM Yulia Tymoshenko in opposition to the President, in the March parliamentary elections, will give Ukraine's electorate a choice which approximates Canada's. Rather than face extreme decisions at the ballot box-oligarch vs. democrats; alignment with Russia or the West-- they will decide who can deliver better on good government, European integration and less corruption.

Perhaps not as dramatic and nerve-wrecking an election as we saw last winter, but better for the people

Warm regards,

Oksana Bashuk Hepburn
President, U*CAN Ukraine Canada Relations Inc.,
and
three-times OSCE elections observer in Ukraine