Thread: Members of Ukrainian parliament fight over Russian language

Originally Posted by Hanna

For some reason Eastern Europe (not just the ex-USSR) doesn't seem to be interested in taking on these particular values.

because these nations are trying to establish themselves, or regain their footing, a process which Western Europe went through 100 some years ago
with these particular values Arabic has all the chances to soon become the second language in a number of Western European countries

Originally Posted by Hanna

It is particularly clear when it comes to how Russian speakers are treated.

what do you mean, Hanna?

Originally Posted by Hanna

I am not one to preach at others but I just don't get why it's such an issue to respect minority languages in Eastern Europe. Other countries in Europe take pride in it. For what it's worth - this seems to be a problem in several other parts of Eastern Europe, since plenty of people ended up on the "wrong" side of a border during the 20th century wars. These are not immigrants or occupiers - they were born there, and have always lived there.

exactly so they've had no problem in learning the local language, it's taught in schools

my mother tongue is Russian, but I don't need it to become the second state language, why? maybe because I know Ukrainian as well

in any event the constitution guarantees language rights to all

but in the Baltic states Russian population predominantly consists of occupiers and their descendants

Originally Posted by Hanna

I don't know to what degree the Russian Federation respects minority languages within its own borders, but I have a vague notion that it DOES in fact support a bilingual situation in areas that have another language.

Russian Federation is a federation therefore by its very design it must respect national languages of the federation members