President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko demands that the state officials speak the Ukrainian language, Kiev-based UNIAN news agency reported.
This statement was made as a reaction to the speech that Chairman of State Tax Administration, Sergei Buriak, made in Russian at the Power and Business Partners Forum in Kiev.
President Yushchenko emphasized that as President, he addresses to the state power officials with the demand to comply with the law on the official language of the state.
"As far as everybody else goes - it is their right: the right to choose (which language to speak). Even the notes coming from parliament members in the Russian language I can tolerate. But when you are talking about a state official, remember that we are living in Ukraine, where there is a law on the official language and the other law about state officials as well," President Yushchenko said. He also added that state officials get extra pay for knowledge of the official language.
Kavkaz Center
Publication time: 3 July 2008, 18:31
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