The influence of “The declaration on the matter of principles of the polish-ukrainian cooperation” of 1987 on the forging of bilateral relationship
Authors: GENYK Mykola 
Published: April 2023

Background The Helsinki Accords signed in 1975 set inviolability of frontiers, ensured respect for human rights and hence formed the new international situation in the East Central Europe. With the emergence of opposition movements and the crisis of so-cialist bloc and the communist ideology, the issue of the future order, interethnic rela-tions, borders and national minorities arose. Purpose The purpose of the article is to research preconditions for signing of “The Declaration on the Matter of Principles of the Polish-Ukrainian Cooperation” in 1987 and its role in paving the way for bilateral relationship. Results. On the Polish opposition initiative in 1987 “The Declaration on the Mat-ter of Principles of the Polish-Ukrainian Cooperation” was signed with representatives of the Ukrainian emigration. It supported inviolability of borders and respect for nation-al minorities’ rights. The declaration was the first agreed between Polish opposition and Ukrainian émigrés document to suggest integrated and thorough project of Polish-Ukrainian cooperation after the downfall of the Socialist Camp and the Soviet Union. Its statements developed by civil society institutions, and partly approved by the gov-ernment-in-exile, were recognized by state structures of both nations after gaining of in-dependence and became a basis of their relationship. The Declaration gave a great impe-tus to normalization of relations between independent Poland and Ukraine. Its principles were implemented in an interstate framework treaty between Ukraine and Poland in 1992 and in a joint statement about mutual understanding and unity signed on the twen-ty-first of May, 1997. Key words: the Polish-Ukrainian relations, frontiers, national minorities, the East Central Europe. Before we will be with Europe. Jerzy Stankiewicz is talking to Grzegorz Kostrzewa, 1989. Tygodnik Polski, 35. 27 sierpnia. (In Polish) Boruta, M., 2002. Free with Free, Equal with Equal. Poland and the Poles about Inde-pendence of the Eastern Neighbours of Rzeczypospolita. Kraków: ARCANA, 355 p. (In Polish) Chushak, Kh., 2011. There is no Free Poland without Free Ukraine: Ukraine and Ukrainians in the Political Thought of Polish Opposition (1976–1989). Lviv: Instytut ukrayinoznavstva im. I. Kryp’yakevycha NAN Ukrayiny; Vydavnyctvo “PAIS”. (In Ukrainian) Concerning the Issue of Polish-Ukrainian Relations [unpublished sourse], 1986. The Declaration. Samostijnyk. Visnyk nezalezhnoho ukrayins"koho slova, 4–5. J. Targalski’s Private Archive in Warsaw. (In Ukrainian) Ideological Declaration of Confederation of Independent Poland [unpublished sourse]. 1 IX 1979. Archives of the KARTA Center (AOK). Archives of the Opposition (AO). Sygn. AO IV/13.1. K. 1. Warsaw. (In Polish) Les archives de l’Institut Litteraire a Paris (AILP). Les coupures de presse (CP). 1991. Vol. 3: Kozak S. Poland and Ukraine. Paths and Impassable Roads to Mutual Understand-ing, 1991. Więź, 11–12 (XI–XII), pp.113–115. (In Polish) Małynowycz, W., 1987. Ukraine and Poland. Kultura, 9 (480), pp.113–115. (In Polish) Markowicz, P., 1988. The Frontiers. Zomorządność, 157 (4 III). Kraków, pp.3–4. (In Polish) Nykiel, W., 1990. Forewarns of Juliusz Mieroszewski. Pogląd, 1/2. Styczeń–luty, pp.65–66. (In Polish) Organizacje opozycyjne wg. miast P-Z: Ideological Declaration of Confederation of Independent Poland [unpublished sourse], 1979, 1. IX. Biblioteka Narodowa. Dokumenty życia społecznego. (DŻS). Sygn. I 2 j. Warsaw. (In Polish) Organizacje opozycyjne wg. miast P-Z: The Statement on the Principles of Polish-Ukrainian Cooperation [unpublished sourse], III 1987. Biblioteka Narodowa. Dokumenty życia społecznego. Sygn. I 2 j. Paryż (In Polish) Podlaski K. [Skaradziński B.]. Belarusians – Lithuanians – Ukrainians: our Enemies or Brothers? Warsaw: Przedświt [unpublished sourse], 1984. P. Kazanecki’s. Private Archive in Warsaw. (In Polish) Samostijnyk. Visnyk nezalezhnoho ukrayins"koho slova [unpublished sourse], 1986, 4–5. J. Targalski’s Private Archive in Warsaw. (In Ukrainian) The Attitude of the Union to National Minorities’ Organizations [unpublished sourse]. Archives of the Karta Center (AOK). Sygn. A/7.4.2 (In Polish) The borders were established for us. Zbigniew Dudziński talked. 1990. Po prostu. War-szawa, 12. 3. V. S. 10. (In Polish) The Declaration: to Brothers Ukrainians, Belarusians and Lithuanians [unpublished sourse], 1985. Vidnova. Kul"tura. Suspil"stvo. Polityka, 3. B. Berdychowska’s Private Ar-chive. (In Ukrainian) The Interview with Jan Zaleski (KOS), 1988. Dialogi. Biuletyn polsko-ukraiński [unpublished sourse], 2–3(11–12), P. Kazanecki’s Private Archive in Warsaw. (In Polish) The interview with Bogumiła Berdychowska [unpublished sourse], Warsaw, 9. Х. 2003. (In Ukrainian) The interview with Bohdan Skaradziński, Podkowa Leśna [unpublished sourse], 15. VIII. 2006. (In Ukrainian) The interview with Grzegorz Kostrzewa-Zorbas [unpublished sourse], Warsaw, 18. VII. 2009. (In Ukrainian) The interview with Jerzy Targalski [unpublished sourse], Warsaw, 22. VIII. 2006. (In Ukrainian) The interview with Leszek Moczulski [unpublished sourse], Warsaw, 18. I. 2007. (In Ukrainian) The Position of CUPPO on Polish-Ukrainian Relations. Vidnova. Kul"tura. Suspil"stvo. Polityka, 5. Lito-osin’-zyma 1986: Chornobyl" – trahediya Ukrayiny [unpublished sourse]. B. Berdychowska’s Private Archive. (In Ukrainian) The Position of CUPPO on Polish-Ukrainian Relations [unpublished sourse], 1986. Samostijnyk. Visnyk nezalezhnoho ukrayins"koho slova, 4–5. J. Targalski’s Private Ar-chive. (In Ukrainian) The Resolution on National Minorities Issue, № 69/81. I Krajowy Zjazd Delegatów NSZZ “Solidarność”. Statut. Uchwała programowa z Aneksem. Dokumenty Zjazdu. Gdańsk: Biuro Informacji Prasowej Komisji Krajowej NSZZ “Solidarność” [unpublished sourse], [1981]. Archives of the Institute of National Remembrance (AIPN). Sygn. IPN BU MSW II 1637. Npgn. (In Polish) The Prague Appeal, 1987. Obóz, 12. B.m.: Wydawnictwo CDN. pp.79–80. (In Polish) The Yalta Appeal, 1985. Niepodległość. Miesięcznik Polityczny Liberalno-Demokratycznej Partii “Niepodległość”, 37–38(II). (In Polish) To Brothers Ukrainians, Belarusians and Lithuanians! The proposal of Common Posi-tion on Polish-Ukrainian, Polish-Belarusian and Polish-Lithuanian Border, 1984. Nowa Koalicja, 2. (In Polish) Ukrainian Supreme Liberation Council. (ZP UHVR – HS ZS UHVR – The surroundings of UHVR (documents, information, names dictionary). Hadyach: Hadyach, 2001. (In Ukrainian) W. Mokry’s Private Archive in Krakow: The editorial staff of the “New Coalition”. Signs of Breakthrough, 1988. Nowa Koalicja, 5, pp.4–5. (In Polish) W. Mokry’s Private Archive in Krakow: the Statement of Ukrainian Supreme Libera-tion Council UHWR, 1986. Obszar III. Pismo Konfederacji Polski Niepodległej. Obszar – Łódź, 2 (XI), pp.1–2. (In Polish) Założenia programowe, 1983. Niepodległość, 21–22 (IX–X). pp.1–3. (In Polish)