62
Paul Tereshkovich
gives
“instructions” not only to Ukrainians. “Many people of Russian culture still should
get rid in themselves of an imperial complex and to realize that the Russian people is
equal among other equal peoples.” One shall not put forward territorial claims on “the
grounds which have been taken away by the Russian empire (and, consequently, Ukraine)
from the Turkish Ottoman Empire as a result of policy which today can be called impe-
rial, the lands which were then populated by Russian inhabitants, namely, Ukrainians and
Russians. This page of history is turned over and is not subject to revision just like the
transformation of Egypt of pharaohs into an Arabian Egypt or a Greek Constantinople
into a Turkish Istanbul” shall not be revised either.
On the whole, one shall forgive enemies. “We already cannot prosecute Ekaterina
or Stalin. Besides, Stalin could also justify his actions… having declared that he is a great
collector of the Ukrainian lands. The same would have been also confirmed by Ekaterina.
Let historical insults remain historical. Once the Mongolian khan Batyj burnt down Kiev,
thus making it the end of Kievan Rus’. But in my heart today there are no unfriendly feel-
ings towards Mongolia. Modern Crimean Tatars do not carry any responsibility for their
ancestors …“
“Bright future”
of Ukraine is in Europe. Besides Europeanness of western Ukraini-
ans geography also supports this. “The territory of Ukraine is the biggest in Europe. The
geographical center of Europe is in the Ukrainian territory, in Zakarpattia. I find this quite
symbolic,” L.Kuchma says. “Ukraine is as if weaved from clearly different regions. In this
respect Ukraine is similar to Poland. Spain is also similar. Any European country of a suf-
ficient size …“is, actually, similar.
Perhaps the most amazing is “the numerological” explanation of inevitability of Eu-
ropeism victory. Leonid Danilovich pays special attention to “a surprising arithmetic regu-
larity. From the christening of Russia up to the independence of Ukraine there has passed
one thousand years. This period is divided into three equal pieces, with each of them
denying the previous one. There are 337 years between the Treaty of Pereyaslav and the
independence. Approximately “on the halfway” between the christening and the Treaty in
1321 when Gediminas conquered Kyivshchyna (Kiev oblast).
What do we see then? During the period from the christening up to Gedeminas
Ukraine was developing in the vein of Eastern-Christian tradition. The following third
shows western influence, a western-eastern synthesis. The last third means the return to
the orthodox cultural circle.
But this last third has expired too. What new civilization cycle have we entered? … At
present the period of “Roman”
prevalence has come, it is even better to say western.”
63
European Identity as the Horizon of Belarusian Imagination
* * *
Moldova is not Romania
As Vasile Stati claims in his “History of Moldova” his work is an invitation to a quiet
and fair meditation. In this context especially touching seems to be the table on p. 40:
“Dynamics of the ethno-linguistic situation in Moldova. The 14
th
– the middle of the 15
th
centuries (sic!!!)” with the precision of up to 5 (!) people.
However, it is not by chance. Moldova is an exceptional country. “In the world there
are not many countries which would start to write their history from the first decades of
their existence. Moldova is one of such countries.” It is a genuine “Eden” and “if the gods
from Greek legends had learned about these places, they for certain would have settled
here, having abandoned their mountains.” Moldova is the land of plenty. The Moldavian
language and the name “Moldova” sound so sweet. Besides, “the ethnicon of Moldavians
(Moldoven) is one of the most ancient in the southeast of Central Europe. Anyway, it is
more ancient than
the names of other peoples, neighbors of Moldova.”
Moldova with its distinctive sincere character is the country in which wisdom domi-
nates over will. It is the country of circumspect individuals which has produced great
ingenious people.”
“Eden”, however, is always connected with specific “
heroes”. Moldavian “Eden” is the
state of Stephen the Great. The way to it was long. “Creation of an independent Moldavian
State in 1359 was not only a consequence of the struggle … for national liberation and
preconditions of the political order: a continually growing will of the population to live
freely
and to work peacefully, in the country managed by voevodas.”
Stephen the Great is devoted 60 out of 420 pages of the text (about 15 %). At the same
time, Vasile Stati gives him a capacious and clear characteristic, namely, “a perspicacious
politician,
a skilful administrator, a good business manager”.
First of all, he consecutively realizes the centralized authority. He “changed the staff
of the centralized power, inviting devoted people, reliable patriots, and heroes from the
middle layers of society.” Moldova’s structure of state economy … was always favorably
different from other neighboring countries, independently determining and creating its
destiny. Stephen Ø took care of the army reorganization. He spread justice in accordance
with the country’s law. He was a zealous owner. “Owing to his policy of society consoli-
dation … crafts developed intensively.” The history of Moldova, unlike that of Walachia,”
emphasizes V. Stati, “has a rich historiography. Its basis was … its most known son, namely,
Stephen Ø the Great.”
He built a lot of churches, etc.
“Stephen … did not conduct any annexationist war,” says Vasile Stati, adding imme-
diately, “The campaign in Pokutia (1490) was a specifically retaliatory expedition.” It was
absolutely justified and was caused “by the duplicity of Polish and Hungarian kings …” Ste-
phen … could not leave unpunished such hypocrisy … “In the summer of 1490 he invaded
Pokutia and captured the area … “