By a slight margin of 52 to 48 per cent, a cross section of opinion leaders surveyed by The Willard Group in cooperation with The Ukrainian Observer indicated their embassy didn't adequately serve their needs in Ukraine.
In the first online survey of this kind conducted by the advertising and public relations holding company and by the monthly English language magazine, a third of the opinion leaders whose opinions were solicited responded.
The survey does not claim to be a scientific sampling of opinion. However, it does represent a cross section of English speaking opinion leaders in Ukraine.
"We were delighted that more than 100 of the 300 opinion leaders from business, government and the media responded to the survey," said Mike Willard, CEO of The Willard Group. "I foresee an even larger response in the future."
When the survey was issued in the first week of December, the Ukraine-Russian controversy over Tuzla, the small island in the Azov Sea, was a relatively not issue.
The opinion leader respondents were equally divided over the land dispute at 42 per cent each over whether the island should be kept at all cost, even military action, or whether it was a non-issue, which will simply go-away.
By a huge margin, and probably predictable given the survey was answered mainly by expats, former Prime Minister Victor Yushchenko was the candidate most favored as Ukraine's next president. He was favored by 62 per cent, while Julia Tymoshenko was favored by 15 per cent.
National Bank Chairman Sergey Tyhipko had two per cent, as did President Leonid Kuchma, while Prime Minister Victor Yanukovych had a single vote, or one per cent. The communist, Petro Symonenko had no one in his corner.
The opinion leaders felt corruption was the No. 1 problem in Ukraine with 47 per cent saying it is their most difficult issue with which to deal, while 19 per cent said lack of leadership, 16 per cent listed bureaucracy and 13 per cent Ukraine's tax policies.
Willard attributed the ease with which one could take the survey online as well as the length of time it took, about five minutes, as the main reason for what he considered a solid response.
The following box represents the survey in its entirety:
|
Ukraine should keep Tuzla island at all cost, even military action |
42 % |
Tuzla is a worthless piece of land and not necessary to Ukraine. |
2 % |
This is a non-issue and will disappea. |
42 % |
No opinion. |
14% |
|
Corruption |
47 % |
The Bureaucracy |
16 % |
Ukraine's Tax policies |
13 % |
Lack of Leadership |
19 % |
Other |
5 % |
|
Victor Yanukovych |
1 % |
Victor Yuschchenko |
62 % |
Julia Tymoshenko |
15 % |
Leonid Kuchma |
3 % |
Sergey Tyhipko |
2 % |
Petro Symonenko |
0 % |
Other |
18 % |
|
American Chamber of Commerce |
34 % |
European Business Association |
29 % |
Other |
38 % |
The UO Person of the Year: Selection Process Year 2003
The idea of selecting a Person of the Year had been germinating for a while. We at the UO look for ways to provide a favorable view of Ukraine. In that regard we feel that singling out for recognition those who have done much good for Ukraine is one important way that objective can be met. When we say "much good" above, we mean those persons who in their lives cause good to happen for the country and who by their image, persona and good works causes others to look with favor on Ukraine.
Now in our first award year looking for those that met this criteria we found athletes (obviously the Klitchko brothers names came up), some religious personages, some business leaders (though they were few), musical and other artists were mentioned and others in a few fields.
Since we left things pretty much in the "much good" category, the names of political personages didn't crop up. Political leadership seemed in some short supply in 2003.
Now, of course, there are many deserving people in this country. There are many who do "much good" and are little recognized for it. Some of these people stand in opposition to or, at the least, may not be seen as favored by some of those in the foregoing political category. Let not more be said.
With names on the table, initially the name of our final selection had not been mentioned. When mentioned, however, there was a groundswell of support. Most of those who work on the UO are familiar with the story of Dmytro Biriukovych and his lovely wife Nina. We, like Ukraine, tend however to forget him. "Out of sight, out of mind." Maybe? He's been gone almost four long years. He's barely touched the soil of his beloved country of late. But, many in the world do know of this Ukrainian Sea Captain. They knew him well on the pages of the New York Times in 2000. They know him in the Northeast and the Northwest and in the South of the USA. Senators, representatives, governors, mayors, local fire and sheriff and marine officials-they all know him. They know him on the cities of the Great Lakes and on the Mississippi River, throughout the Caribbean, in Cuba, in New Zealand, some islands in the Pacific. And they will soon know him in Australia. And through him they know that UKRAINE IS NOT RUSSIA.
In time the UO will improve and refine its selection process. Perhaps, we will add outstanding people to aid us in our selection process. Perhaps we will expand our criteria. Maybe, in time, the UO will decide to add features that might lead even our politician's to gain eligibility in serious numbers. (We note that Time magazine this year had Saddam Hussein in the running for it's Person of the Year award prior to collectively settling on the American soldier.)
But we always know this. In the year 2003, our selection is well justified.
Editor's Note
Our award is, of course, officially a Person of the Year Award. When the selection is female the award will be referred to appropriately.
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