AN OPEN LETTER TO THE GERMAN AMBASSADOR IN UKRAINE
March 12, 2012
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany to Ukraine
H.E. Mr. Dr. Hans-Jurgen Heimsoeth
kanzlei@german-embassy.kiev.ua
Your Excellency:
We write to you in a matter of some concern to the global Ukrainian community. The hosting by your Embassy on March 1, 2012 of a lecture entitled “Bandera-fascist” by a Polish-German developing academic, known only for extremist statements, is deemed by us a signal of an anti-Ukrainian bias on the part of the government of the Federal Republic of Germany. It is our position that while the decision to hold this event may have been that of simply someone at your Embassy, the blame, unfortunately, falls squarely upon the government of the FRG.
This is not an issue of free speech or academic freedom, both of which should be fully respected. Likewise, we do not address the Embassy's familiarity or lack thereof with the subject matter. For this reason we refrain from correcting any of the outrageous statements made in the course of the presentation. There is nothing for us to debate on this account with the German Embassy. Stepan Bandera was a XX century Ukrainian libration nationalist who fought for Ukrainian independence. He was a hero for us and, certainly, an enemy for others. He fought against imperial Poland, Soviet Russia and Nazi Germany, all occupying Ukraine at different times to attain freedom for the Ukrainian people. Polish, Russian, German, Ukrainian and other scholars may debate his deeds and writings. However, an Embassy simply located in Kyiv, Ukraine is not equipped nor granted the credentials to do so.
We appreciate most efforts made in support of education and information dissemination. However, in the instant case, since the title of the lecture itself was so grossly inflammatory and the presenter of little credential (still matriculating) and more of extremist bluster, that should have been sufficient reason for your office to deny the request for hospitality. Additionally, your office should have been circumspect enough to ascertain why no respected educational institution in Ukraine was willing to host the event. It appears that flares went off, yet your office ignored all.
Aside from the foregoing, we find it highly questionable, if not totally inappropriate for any embassy to scrutinize publicly the history and personages therein of any host country. This leads us to believe that someone within your Embassy had an agenda to disparage and offend. Then there is the possibility that quite simply an error was made or attention omitted and the Ambassador is the last person to know.
We should like to suggest that this is an opportunity to investigate why and how this event took place and present your findings together with a cogent explanation. In the alternative, a sincere apology to Ukrainians everywhere for this error in judgment should be forthcoming. To you this event may appear minor with limited participation, but let us assure you that the resonance has transcended the event itself.
We are prepared to pursue this matter further and intend to commence with a call urging Ukrainians from Ukraine to New Zealand to boycott German-made products, desist from travel to Germany and even organize demonstrations globally at German diplomatic missions. Finally, since this defamation was sponsored by the German Embassy and took place on what can be deemed German territory, we will assist any surviving Bandera family members who may consider seeking recourse against the German government for defamation in the courts. These options we are reviewing reluctantly, but should you fail to act in remedial fashion, we shall be resolute.
German-Ukrainian relations should be a matter of great concern to both countries in view of proximity, shared economic and political ambitions, joint humanitarian concerns. Given the size and strategic locations of the two countries these are not minor ambitions or concerns. We are certain that you value these relations. Therefore you understand the need to respect each other, our respective culture and history. This includes at the very least a diplomatic reverence for each other's heroes.
Much remains to be done in the area of fostering stronger Ukrainian-German bonds of friendship. Unfortunately, the recent event at your Embassy was a step backward. We sincerely hope that you will now take a step forward.
Respectfully,
For the International Conference in Support of Ukraine
