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Party Leader Denounces Overemphasis of Language and Religion Differences

23.08.2007, [12:53] // Church-state relations //

Pervomaisk - Yurii Lutsenko, party leader of Our Ukraine – People’s Self-Defense Bloc called on voters during a political rally on 22 August 2007 at Pervomaisk in Kharkiv region to disregard proclamations by other politicians that Ukraine has serious language and religion problems. His speech is recorded on the party’s official website.

The bloc leader asserted, “If some politician comes to you and says that Ukraine has language problems, tell him in any language you prefer to go away . If somebody tells you that Ukraine has religious conflict, send him to the nearest church to confess his sins.” He explained that some political blocs play on language and religion questions in any way they can to achieve political dividends, raising these to the level of Ukraine’s main problems and thereby aggravating the day-to-day existence of its citizens.

• http://www.razom.org.ua/ua/news/17869/