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Ukrainian Ministry of Culture, together with the OSCE, is preparing amendments to the law on the state language, the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Lamberto Zannier said. According to him, the document will take into account the role of the Russian language, Izvestia newspaper writes.
The representative of the international organization believes that the Ukrainian authorities have found too tough solution to the questions about the state language. They use not a system of rewards and incentives, but the punishments. Zannier added that Kiev introduces elements of discrimination in this topic.
Moreover, the OSCE Commissioner pointed out, Kiev adopted the draft law, refusing prior consultations with representatives of national minorities.
Zannier is sure that Ukraine needs a mechanism of interaction with national minorities on a systematic basis. It will provide an opportunity to take into account the concerns of national communities, he stressed.
It should be recalled that the new law on state language will make even more pressure on those who speak Russian, and on the representatives of other national minorities. Many of its provisions are not consistent with the international obligations undertaken by Kiev, and contrary to the Ukrainian Constitution. The law also does not comply with the Minsk agreements. It will only aggravate the split of Ukrainian society and further alienate the prospects for resolving the crisis that Ukraine is going through.
According to the new law, Ukrainian remains the only state language in all spheres of public life on the Ukrainian territory. Its use is mandatory for all authorities at all levels, from state to municipal. It should work in service, health and education. The new law does not affect only interpersonal communication and religion.
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