Information about Guaranteeing of Rights for Romanian Minority in Chernivtsi Region

Many representatives of nearly eighty nationalities live in Chernivtsi region.

Among them one can find Ukrainians (75%), Romanians (12, 5%), Moldavians (7,3%), Jews (2 %), Poles (0,3 %), Byelorussians (0,2%) and some Germans (0,1 %).

According to the 2001 census of enumeration data there live approximately 114, 5 thousands of Romanians in Chernivtsi region.

Region        %

1. Gertsa   91,5

2 Glyboka   45,3

3. Storojynets  36,8

2. National and Cultural Romanian Associations

16 National cultural associations of Romania are registered in Chernivtsi, 12 of which are working nowadays, among which there is one All-Ukrainian union, six district, two municipal and two regional ones.

Here is a list of registered All-Ukrainian, regional national and cultural associations.

1. Regional Association of Romanian Culture named after Eminesku, (Byku Vasyl is the head)

2. Regional Organization “Protection of Human Rights” (Opaits Arkadiy)

3. Regional Association of Romanian Population, victims of Stalin repressions “Golgofa”. (Grior Petro)

4. All-Ukrainian public organization ”Christian and Democratic Ukrainian Alliance” (Olaru Kostyantyn)

5. All- Ukrainian Scientific and Pedagogical Association “Aron Pumpul” (the head is Kostantynovych Aurel)

6. Regional Organization of Cultur&Sports Club “Dragosh-Vode” (Postevka Petro)

7. Chernivtsi regional union of Romanian associations “For European Integration” (Bozhesku Aurica)

8. The regional medical public organization “Isidor Bodya” (Ivan Broaske)

9. The regional organization The League Romanian Youth “Zhunimya” (Vitaliy Zuhrya)

10. Chernivtsi Regional Charity and Cultural Foundation “Romanian Language House” (Vasyl’ Terizanu)

11. Interregional Union ”Romanian Community of Ukraine” (Ivan Popesku)

12. Congress of Romanians of Ukraine (Cheornoletski Georgiy)

Some events became traditional, such as: the Literary and Art evenings devoted to anniversaries of M. Eminesku (“Emineschiana”); the Romanian spring festival “Mertsishor”; the funeral rites for the victims of the Stalin’s repressions held in conference with Regional State Administrations; amatour’s falk troups’ taking part in festival “Bukovunski zustrichi”, which is held in Poland, Romania, Hungary and Germany; the traditional Romanian holiday “Limba Noastre Chya Romine” (“Our Native Romanian Language”); traditional annual Romanian festival of the Christmas ceremonies and songs “Florile Dalbe”.

3. Language

Many people acknowledged the Romanian language as their native one during the general census of the population of Ukraine held in 2001. In general, 92 % of the Romanians in Chernivtsi region consider the Romanian language as their native. This percentage in Hertsaivskiy district makes up 99,6%, 95% – in Storoshinetskiy district, 88% – in Hlybotskiy district.

At the same time according to the census of population held in 2001, the 52% of Romanians don’t speak Ukrainian language at all.

4. The guaranteeing of Romanian community rights to obtain education

The main educational system of schools and preschool institutions take to account the national structure of population, its language and cultural needs, traditions etc.

There are 47 preschool institutions with Romanian language of study and upbringing and 3 of mixed type in the region. More than 2 000 children study over there. The Romanian language group of 22 children is functioning in the preschool institution # 1 in Chernivtsi.

In 2008-2009 the general number of schools was 449, including 356 – Ukrainian, 76 – Romanian, 1 – Russian, 16 – bilingual, 13 of which are Ukrainian and Romanian and 3 of them are Ukrainian and Russian.

Five secondary educational institutions of our region are represented by lyceums and gymnasiums. For example, Hertsayvski Regional lyceum named after H.Asaki, Karapchivski lyceum named after M.Eminesku, Boyany gymnasium named after S.Nekulche, Novoselytsya Regional lyceum, Krasnoyilsk gymnasium.

Approximately 19 thousands of students study the Rumanian language, literature, history and traditions of the Romanians; about 600 students study profoundly the Rumanian philology.

The Chernivtsi National University, pedagogic college, higher educational institutions of Romania train teaching staff for the regional schools with the Romanian language of study. National-language peculiarities of the region are also considered in the regional secondary-professional and higher educational institutions.

At present the Chernivtsi National University has a department of the Romanian language and literature at the philological faculty. Every year its graduates run a contest for studying in the higher educational institutions of Romania.

5. Guaranteeing of rights of the Romanian community in the realm of culture

There are groups of amateur performance, library funds of the editions in national languages in districts of close habitation of ethnical communities representatives. Namely, in places of close habitation of Romanian population (Hertsa, Hlyboka, Storozhynets’ districts and Chernivtsi) there are 543 amateur clubs. The folklore groups are formed at national-cultural communities. For instance, an amateur choir group “Dragoz Vode” functioning at community of the Romanian culture named after M.Eminesku. There are 58 Palaces of Culture and Clubs and 4 art schools. There function 80 public and 76 school libraries functioning.

6. Presence of national minorities’ representatives in the executive branch of power in the Chernivtsi region.

The Romanian community is widely represented in the local executive bodies in the localities of close population of the Romanian minority.

The Romanian community is the most widely represented one in this regional and local bodies of self-government, especially in the municipal councils. Among 104 deputies of the regional council there are 14 representatives of Romanian ethnic minority.

7. The cooperation of the government bodies and national cultural societies.

On the February 9 the XXXVI deputy session approved the Supporting Program for the national communities, ethnic societies and the Ukrainian diasporas for the 2010-2012 years. Its aim is the mutual enrichment of the ethnic societies cultures.

Foreground directions and tasks of the program are as follows:

• state support of regional national cultural societies;

• maintenance of cultural educational needs and of needs for information of ethnic communities of the region;

• support of Ukrainian Diaspora in Romania;

• formation of positive image of Bukovyna as a polycultural region where the representatives of miscellaneous ethnic communities tolerantly interacted for centuries.

8. Monuments

Regional State Administrations pays great attention to the problem of restoration of historical memory, celebration of memorable dates of national minorities representatives.

9. Religion

Worship services in places of compact residing of the Romanian and Moldavian communities are conducted by language of ethnic minorities.

Among 399 arrivals of Chernivtsi region archdiocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox church 106 are Romanian. In 82 arrivals worship services are carried out in Romanian, in 24 arrivals – in Ukrainian and Romanian. Among 10 monasteries of archdioceses 5 are Romanian. Among 354 clergymen 114 are ethnic Romanians. Approximately 150 priests loosely know Romanian. All inscriptions and declarations of the Chernivtsi consistory are translated into Romanian. Among 160 religious Baptist communities 29 are Romanian, 25 Romanian pastors maintain them. Among 94 Adventist religious organizations 12 are Romanian (8 pastors). Among Pentecostals 87 religious organizations 35 are Romanian (30 clergymen).