1. Traditionally, what are your personal ratings of the most important events in 2009, in Ukraine and elsewhere in the world?
2. Do you think that Ukraine and Ukrainians have changed over the past year? Have there been any changes (hopefully, for the better) in your life? What have you learned, seen, and accomplished?
3. Who is the Person of the Year for you personally?
4. A few words about yourself and your experience of The Day: Which topics, authors, photos, and projects carried by this newspaper impressed you the most in 2009, and why?
5. What is your New Year 2010 aphoristic toast (or drawing) for the big Ukrainian family?
Dr. Hans-Jurgen HEIMSOETH, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Germany to Ukraine:
1. The following events have been of special importance to me in 2009:
First, changes and stability: the new US President Barack Obama was sworn in, and Angela Merkel was re-elected as Federal Chancellor.
Second, the Treaty of Lisbon. It came into effect and will strengthen the European Union as a solid political entity.
Fourth, the gas crisis: It was the manifestation of the European Union’s concern over the reliability of gas supplies.
All these four events are also important for Ukraine, particularly the gas crisis that damaged Russia’s and Ukraine’s reputation. It was also a lesson for the European Union; it will before long become more independent of Russia as a supplier and will promote the idea of alternative transportation corridors. However, thinking back to the first three events, I generally arrive at positive conclusions.
2. Unfortunately few economic changes for the better have taken place in the past year, in view of the crisis, although I would point out several bright moments: making new friends, enjoying good books, and the presence of a fragment of the Berlin Wall in front of the German Embassy in Kyiv that serves as a reminder of the elevated spirit of 1989.
3. There are three individuals who have left me specially impressed in 2009: Barack Obama, who is offering a new hope to the peoples of the world, even though some of expectations appear overstated; Angela Merkel who is helping to keep Europe on a steady course, with the possibility of compromise; Herta Mueller, the laureate of the Nobel Prize in Literature, who has once again reminded us that books can tell life stories better than people can.
4. As a historian, I appreciate frequent references to the Ukrainian past, especially information about various conferences that would have otherwise failed to reach the public. A good example is the French-Russian-Ukrainian conference on national history and historical memory, which was held toward the end of November.
5. More happiness to help all people be brothers, which was Beethoven’s message in his Ninth Symphony.
