Ukraine lies in the heart of Europe and at its crossroads. Ukrainian lands were divided for centuries, feeding the power of surrounding nations and other interests. Although divided by political borders for centuries, the Ukrainian dream for its own statehood lived on.

Ukraine finally regained its independence at the end of the 20th century, but the reborn nation immediately found itself facing the challenges presented by the need for deep social and economic transformations.

Then, in the new millennium, a fresh danger appeared – an artificial division of the Ukrainian people was attempted by competing political forces. Each group proposed radical solutions to regional differences, with one group demanding Ukraine join the West while the other championed a Soviet-type union with Russia. Neither group considered the real interests of the Ukrainian people.

The only thing that protected Ukraine was the will of its citizens, who rose to defend their rights, and in doing so won the support of the free people of the world - who were charmed by the smile of Ukrainian democracy.

Ukraine finally recognized its own national goal – to unite all Ukrainians in a civil society - a society where a real multi-party system exists and where political parties can become instruments of rule by the people.

For thousands of years, European nations have followed republican ideals, which, like a mighty oak tree, absorb nourishment through roots planted deep in the experience of history and the wisdom of tradition. And as an oak’s strong trunk delivers life-giving water to the leaves as they reach out to the sun, so too republican ideals and principles deliver freedoms that sustain the people as they pursue their true destiny. CONTINUED