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Ukraine’s acting president orders new language law to be drafted
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<p class="">[ 28 February 2014 00:38 ]</p>
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<div class="">Baku-<a href="http://en.apa.az">APA</a>.
Ukraine’s acting President Alexander Turchinov has ordered the creation
of a working group that will “urgently draft a new language law,” the
press serving of the ruling Batkivshchina (Fatherland) party said on
Thursday, February 27, <a href="http://en.apa.az">APA</a> reports quoting Itar-Tass.</div>
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“The draft law should be worked out urgently, taking into account the
speculations that surround this issue. I instruct the relevant committee
to set up a joint working group together with linguists, philologists
and specialists on social issues in order to draft a new law. Unlike the
previous one, a new language law, which must be drafted urgently, will
be completely balanced,” Turchinov said.</p>
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He said the new law would take into account the interests of eastern
and western regions of Ukraine, all ethnic groups and ethnic minorities.</p>
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On February 23, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine’s parliament) cancelled the
2012 Law on the “Principles of the State Language Policy,” which had
been in force since August 10, 2012 and which had given Russian the
status of regional language in regions where it was native for at least
10 percent of people. Russian was given the status of regional in 13 of
27 Ukrainian regions.</p>
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However, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Astrid Thors
warned that the parliament’s decision to cancel this law could lead to
further unrest, especially in a context where language policy is such a
divisive issue.</p>
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The High Commissioner urged the authorities to take measures to ensure
that the concerns of all ethnic and linguistic groups are being taken
into account. She encouraged the authorities to refrain from taking any
hasty actions that could lead to further escalation.</p>
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“At this crucial time in its history, Ukraine needs leaders, laws and
policies that unite rather than divide. Like my predecessors, I call on
the Ukrainian authorities to adopt a balanced and inclusive approach
towards language policy. The authorities have to consult widely to
ensure that future language legislation accommodates the needs and
positions of everyone in Ukrainian society, whether they are speakers of
Ukrainian, Russian or other languages,” Thors said. Consultations
should also encompass international organisations, including the Council
of Europe and the OSCE, to ensure that any new language legislation
meets European standards.</p>
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The European Parliament also urged the Ukrainian authorities to protect
citizens’ right to use the Russian and other minority languages. It
said new language legislation should be consistent with Ukraine’s
obligations assumed under the European Charter for Regional or Minority
Languages.</p><p><br></p><p><a href="http://en.apa.az/news/207783">http://en.apa.az/news/207783</a><br></p><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>**************************************<br>N.b.: Listing on the lgpolicy-list is merely intended as a service to its members<br>
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