[lg policy] Ukraine's acting president orders new language law to be drafted

[Harold Schiffman]

 Ukraine's acting president orders new language law to be drafted

[ 28 February 2014 00:38 ]


Baku-APA <http://en.apa.az>. 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, APA <http://en.apa.az> reports quoting
Itar-Tass.

 "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.



He said the new law would take into account the interests of eastern and
western regions of Ukraine, all ethnic groups and ethnic minorities.



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.



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.



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.



"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.



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.


http://en.apa.az/news/207783


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