- Dines first visited Kiev in January 1984 and then again in
1989. Those were the days of the Soviet Union. An atmosphere of
sordidness and despair reigned. Most buildings were ill
kept. Toilets (at the university) stank. Few cars, mostly Lada and
Volgas.
- Now things are looking up rather encouragingly. Not that all
my Ukrainian friends may say so, but ... Buildings, in the city
center, are now being restored; new, fancy, buildings have been and
are being built; most cars are "foreign", from all over the world !
Etcetera.
- But, unlike in Northern Europe, Scandinavia, Finland, The
Netherlands, Germany, where their citizens have a basic trust in
their governments, politicians, in the police, etc., so seems not
yet the case in Ukraine.
Dines Bjorner
2010-12-27
