1. Can you give your rating of worldwide events in 2007?  Which do you think were most important for Ukrainian society?

The key point here is that Ukraine is becoming increasing integrated with the rest of the world.  This isn’t a uniquely Ukrainian phenomenon.  All countries, with a very few exceptions such as North Korea and Burma, are becoming increasingly integrated into a worldwide global community.  But this has a particular impact in countries such as Ukraine which have moved from a totalitarian system of government and comparative isolation before 1991 to become democratic countries.

That integration of Ukraine into global networks is happening every month, every day, every minute.  It includes everything from the spread of the Internet to participating in new sports (I recently enjoyed watching the Ukraine national rugby team) to increasing economic integration.  Its one of the things that makes Kiev such a dynamic and vibrant place to live.

Against that background, its clear that many worldwide events will have a growing impact on Ukraine.  Number one probably has to be the world financial crisis, the full effects of which still remain uncertain.  Clearly, however, they will have a profound impact on Ukraine.  That makes it all the more important that the Ukrainian body politic can respond effectively and in a joined-up way.  That includes both establishing an effective, functioning government, and ensuring that the different branches of the political system in Ukraine work together productively.  So that’s my answer to the fourth question on your list, too: “What would you wish the Ukrainians in this year?”  My greatest wish would be that Ukraine can govern itself better, and that Ukrainian politicians will respond in a mature, professional and constructive way to the major challenges which the country faces in the months and years ahead.  It’s a tough assignment, because politicians everywhere like a good argument and a politician who agrees with everyone is not really a politician at all.  But when the challenges facing a country are as great as those facing Ukraine today, special rules apply.  So I hope that the politicians of all complexions in Ukraine can rise to that challenge.

2. What events in Ukraine drew the greatest attention abroad including in your country?  What changed, in your view, in Ukraine?

This is a two-part answer.  First, I think the outside world, including the United Kingdom, is increasingly aware of Ukraine and developments here.  There is more travel in both directions; we are issuing more visas; there are business visitors and educational exchanges.  So Ukraine’s international profile is rising all the time.  The second part of the answer is about individual events.  I’m afraid that there’s bad news as well as good.  The number one video on the BBC website for a couple of days towards the end of the year was a short clip of Ukrainian MPs fighting in the Rada.  So that was the image which most people who were interested in international news in Britain and around the world saw coming out of Ukraine.  I hope that all the MPs who were involved, and those who have influence over them, are aware of the damage they are doing to Ukraine’s international reputation.  That has an impact on everything else, from Ukraine’s ability to attract inward investment to how foreign governments evaluate commitments made by Ukraine to implement legislative reforms which require the approval of the Rada.  I don’t want to go on about this; but its such a glaring example of how influential figures in society can damage that society’s reputation that it’s impossible to ignore.  

On a more positive note, I think that the steady, careful progress which Ukraine has been making in its progress towards further integration with international organisations such as the WTO, the European Union and NATO is helping to raise the profile of the country world-wide.  Much of the day-to-day work which goes on to promote such integration takes place in committees in Brussels, Kiev and elsewhere and is invisible to most people.  But that doesn’t make it any less important.  In the real world integration takes place through a constant, growing ground-swell of contacts between people at every level, from Presidents and Prime Ministers to the most junior officials in government ministries, business people, tourists and of course sportsmen and women.  Indeed, I’d like to say a special word for the footballers of Shaktar Donetsk, Dynamo Kiev and other Ukrainian teams who I’ve enjoyed watching in European competitions.  I’ve been impressed by the standard of play and by the high standard of football culture on display in terms of fair play.  I keep hoping that one of the Ukrainian teams will be drawn against Manchester United, but it hasn’t happened yet.

3. What in “The Day” made the strongest impression on you?

I’ve enjoyed reading “The Day”, especially because it is available in both Russian, which I spoke before coming here, and in Ukrainian, which I'm learning.  So its been my regular reading matter over the last six months and a useful source of information and commentary.  Indeed, I think the level of debate and commentary in the Ukrainian media is a good feature of the country.  The fact that the media are pretty much free here is a positive feature of Ukraine compared with some other countries of the former Soviet Union.  Of course, that doesn’t mean that the media in Ukraine should rest on its laurels – there is always more that can be done, whether it is in promoting diversity of media ownership, increasing further the quality and range of views which are available, or ensuring that investigative journalism is ready and able to explore all aspects of a country.  That includes helping the public to exercise democratic control over what the government and the opposition are doing.  It’s vital that the media, in Ukraine as elsewhere, can say, hand on heart, that their No.1 priority is to serve the public interest.  Otherwise, commercial pressures risk creating TV channels and newspapers which serve the interests of particular individuals or political groups, rather than help the public understand what’s happening and pressing for higher standards in political and economic life.   In a way, the challenges facing the media in Ukraine are just as great as those facing politicians.  I hope that journalists and media owners, too, can rise to those challenges in the interests of all Ukrainians.