Patriarch Husar: There Should Be One State Language in Ukraine

ODESA — During a press conference in Odesa on March 10, 2010, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Patriarch Lubomyr (Husar), expressed his opinion on many questions regarding the political situation in the state and the statements of politicians about introducing a second state language. “There should be one state language in Ukraine but other languages should not be oppressed,” noted the hierarch.

In his opinion, according to reporter.com.ua, the language problem in Ukraine is simply “stirred up by politicians.” “I lived in the USA for 20 years, many nationalities live there but there is one state English language. The same in Italy. It is most understandable. And it is natural,” stressed the patriarch.

At the same time he stated that one should understand that in Ukraine representatives of various nationalities live and therefore the right to communicate between themselves in any language should remain. “Communication is the personal business of each person. Why should they not speak different languages at school? It only enriches the culture,” added the hierarch.