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Ukraine to pass law on two state languages – President Yanukovich

He admitted that “there were periods in Ukraine when there was disbalance in the language sphere”

KIEV, March 19 (Itar-Tass) —— Ukraine will soon pass a law on two state languages, Ukrainian and Russian, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich said on Sunday ahead of his visit to Moscow.

“Ukraine is interested in it, people, who speak the two languages, are interested in it,” Yanukovich said in an exlusive interview with Iatar-Tass.

He admitted that “there were periods in Ukraine when there was disbalance in the language sphere,” but now this problem no longer exists in his country. “People say that this issue needs to be regulated in order not to inflame passions, which are stirred up each time before the elections,” Yanukovich said.

He cited international practices, when some states have two or three state languages, “and live normally.”

“That is why we have taken this path. The path that is based on the use of this European practice, with its Charter for Languages,” he said.

He also said that there are regions in Ukraine where people speak three and even four languages. So, in his words, it is necessary to create favorable conditions for such people, including textbooks and school classes. “We are doing our best in this area in order to preserve the cultural heritage of Ukraine’s peoples. This is the priority of state policy,” he stressed.

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