I have always regarded diplomats as the most reserved and cautious of all Ukrainian government officials. Even talking about obvious things and undeniable facts, they always weigh each word. Foreign Ministry officials who agree to meet with journalists seldom receive them in their offices, preferring informal conversations in parks or cafes.

Such meetings invariably gave me the strong impression that more and more diplomats were deeply disappointed and even outraged at the foreign policy pursued (not declared) by this country’s leadership. They felt not less disappointed and insulted by the methods used in pursuit of this policy. Their faces grew darker when they saw years of their hard and diligent work canceled by the President’s decree or phrase.

The diplomats are supposed to uphold Ukraine’s international authority. But they had to give explanations to their counterparts during the tape scandal. Ukraine declares its European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations. But its Prime Minister and candidate for the Presidency says that he sees no sense in knocking on Europe’s door, and promises to give up Ukraine’s bid for NATO membership, offering instead the dubious Eurasian project [an economic union with Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan]. How could the Ukrainian diplomats explain why a twice ex-convict was running for president? How could they reassure their counterparts that the presidential election was “fair and free”? The whole world saw that it was not.

Yes, our diplomats are reserved and cautious. But at the crucial historical moment, they were the first public servants to remember their oath of allegiance to the Ukrainian people.

The pioneers were staffers with the Ukrainian Embassy in the United States. On Monday, in defiance of Ambassador Mykhailo Reznik’s position, they stated their protest against violations of our fundamental civil rights, and demanded that election returns reflect the real will of the Ukrainian people as the sole source of power.

At first I wondered how soon this information would be refuted and these brave men would be called away from Washington.

But on Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Markian Lubkivsky read out a statement signed by 150 Ukrainian diplomats. It reads,

The diplomats expressed the hope that their statement would be signed by more colleagues from other government agencies.

Lubkivsky explained that the diplomats were motivated by their concern about the future of this country, its sovereignty, and international respect toward it. The diplomats have no right to pretend that nothing is happening while the entire civilized world is utterly indignant at abominable violations and falsifications during the presidential election in Ukraine. “The reaction from the international community is no secret. We hope that the statements made by the OSCE, the USA, and other countries will be accepted by our state authority as well,” said Lubkivsky. He did not rule out the possibility of Ukraine’s international isolation. He declined to answer the “hypothetical question” about Ukraine’s likely policy in case Yanukovych were elected President. “I can only say with confidence what way Ukraine will follow if Viktor Yushchenko is recognized as its president. This way unquestionably leads to Europe,” said Lubkivsky.

On Wednesday, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Australia, Alexander Mishchenko, addressed the heads of all Ukrainian diplomatic offices with an open appeal. He stressed that Ukrainian diplomacy demonstrated “will and resolve to be together with the people, whose constitutional right to elect and be elected is jeopardized by falsifications, manipulations, and intimidations”. “Our younger colleagues, staffers with embassies and foreign ministry offices in Kyiv demonstrate an example of honest service to their nation. I am deeply convinced that we can not hide behind our subordinates’ backs. As citizens of Ukraine, we must be together with them. We must use the whole power of our authority to ensure that the true results of the election are established in court.”

Mishchenko’s statement was also signed by two colleagues - Ambassador to India Oleg Semenets and Ambassador to Macedonia Oleksiy Shovkoplyas. As far as we know, almost all the deputies of the Foreign Minister support their subordinates. At writing, as many as 417 Ukrainian diplomats have signed the document, and the number keeps growing.

Some ambassadors still refrain from signing the document, explaining that they were appointed by the President. However, they accept positively and do not restrain their subordinates’ desire to demonstrate their civil position. In private calls to Kyiv they express their support.

A number of other ambassadors try to dissuade their staffers from signing the document and suggest discussing the issue at general meetings.

Naturally, everyone is interested to know about Foreign Minister Kostyantyn Hryshchenko’s position. The day the statement was made public, he issued a circular, which said that “when the situation in Ukraine is in the focus of international attention, the position of Ukrainian diplomats both in this country and abroad is extremely important”. “Respecting the political views of every Ukrainian citizen and your views as well, I appeal to you, Ukrainian diplomats. I ask you to continue your selfless diplomatic service, leaving your political tastes and activities outside the ministry and diplomatic missions,” Hryshchenko said in his appeal.

Another document saw the light on November 24. The Foreign Ministry of Ukraine issued an official statement. As the statement said, the ministry continues to perform its mission of upholding Ukraine’s national interests in the international arena. The statement also said that until the Central Election Commission officially established the results of the presidential election, the legitimately elected President Leonid Kuchma would remain the head of state, the guarantor of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, observance of the Constitution and the citizens’ rights. The Foreign Ministry specifically stressed that “in accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine, the President is in charge of the state’s foreign policy. “Being guided by this principle, the Foreign Ministry as a body of executive authority and all diplomatic officers continue discharging their duties in keeping with current legislation. At the same time, they cannot use their personal political views while discharging their duties, thus undermining the people’s trust,” the statement said. In the context of all these developments and documents, Markian Lubkivsky’s disappearance from the mass media space looks conspicuous. It is rumored in the Foreign Ministry that those who signed the statement are going to be fired.

The law “On Diplomatic Service” says clearly in which cases a diplomat may be dismissed. One of them is “non-fulfillment of duties which has resulted in human casualties or damage to a citizen, an enterprise, an organization, or the state”. This can in no way be applied to those four hundred Ukrainian diplomats, who signed the statement, exactly because they do comply with the principles stated in the same law:

- service to the Ukrainian people;

- protection of national interests;

- priority of civil rights and freedoms;

- democracy and lawfulness;

- humanism and social justice;

- professionalism, competence, initiative, objectivity, honesty, commitment to the cause, etc.

Now Hryshchenko is in a bind and under colossal pressure from the top leadership. But his subordinates understand and respect his position. They hope and believe that the minister will not betray the principles stated in his circular, at least because his own children are now on Independence Square.

P.S. As Foreign Ministry staffers told The ZN, the canteen in the Foreign Ministry building on Mykhailivska street, which can cater for up to one hundred people, is open to those who need cheap hot food in this nasty weather.