In September
1991, I was sent to Chernovtsy -Chernivtsi on assignment. We were covering the
birth of a nationless country; a former Soviet Republic and aspiring new comer
to the hybrid family of European states.
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| Viewing in opposite directions at Bender market on the Moldovan Transnistria border. Kremlin strategists tip the scales in favour of Russians looking East. Conflict on the southern flank is never far away to include most of Bassarabia. Image 2002 |
Crossing back from the Ukraine at the northern
Moldovan border our minders entered into the customary bribery for exit visas
and the torturous babbling over who we were and why we were there.
Through our
translator a border guard asked why I was making a picture of the new Ukrainian
flag. Baffled, I flippantly enquired why! Is it a secret! The answer came back “Yes! Our
national flag is a Secret.”
Ukraine is a
house of straw, steeped in division and secrecy. The western Polish/Ukrainian sector
wants to join the EU. It will bring little if nothing to the party. Russian
east-Ukraine has all the goodies; industry, agriculture, tourism and natural resources.
It has a chance to build a home of stone for Slavic pride.
The EU has
been sold a pup over Polish ambitions to regain the city of L’viv and former surrounding
territories.
In the end, Russians
have kept their best cards for this present scenario. Should Polish Ukraine
move west, Russia will follow towards Transnistria, Gagauz and Kishinev, re-establishing the former south western flank of a resurgent power. Its time for the EU to weigh-up the odds.
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