With respect to national question, social democracy is guided by the basic principle of the General Declaration of Human Rights: "All people are born free and equal in their dignity and rights." This means that Ukraine, being a democratic state, is committed to respect the rights and liberties of each individual regardless of his/her nationality. Such an approach is concordant with the principle of real internationalism. It proclaims unity of all people of good will throughout the world that is being practised by the European and world social democracy.

While determining national policy priorities, SDPU(U) proceeds from the fact that it should be targeted at establishing genuine equality of all the national groups that reside in our country, harmonisation of interethnic relations, and preventing confrontation between different nationalities. Strategic goal of national policy for us is creating a Ukrainian political nation.

Social democracy considers political nation as a unity of all citizens, community of all ethnic groups that reside in a given territory within the limits of a single state formation. In this respect, belonging to the nation is determined not by ethnic origin, but unified rights and duties of citizens in a society and state. That is why such concepts as "political nation" for us is the similar to the concept "people" in its social meaning. And ethnic self-identification of an individual is his/her private choice and totally excludes any interference of the state. We are convinced that only such approach will enable us to overcome national and regional confrontation, ensure harmonisation of national and social interests based on social partnership and solidarity.

We are against treating people by nationality, stressing their ethnic distinctions and specific features. We are against confrontation between nationalities in the society, against propaganda of national exclusiveness and superiority of one nation over the other. We are against any display of national extremism, chauvinism, Russophobia and anti-Semitism.

In implementing national policy we consider unacceptable national nihilism and disregard of traditional values of Ukrainian people, their language and culture that are fundamentals of spiritual revival of our society.

We will consistently introduce into life the principles of the European Convention on protection of rights of national minorities that has been signed by Ukraine. National minorities should be guaranteed the right for cultural and national autonomy, education in their native languages, development of their national cultures. SDPU(U) sticks to and facilitates implementation of the right of national minorities to national autonomy as guaranteed by Article 6 of the law of Ukraine "On National Minorities In Ukraine."

These issues also include renewal of historic justice regarding the nations deported from the territory of Ukraine in the years of totalitarian regime. In the period of deportation their political and social rights were severely restricted, huge damage was caused to their culture and education. We presume that now it is possible to resolve the issue of reimbursement representatives of these nationalities and ethnic groups, cover up their material and moral losses. We will initiate development and adoption of the corresponding state programme. We will provide a full-scale support to implementation of the Agreement signed by CIS on the issues of deported people, national minorities and nations. We will also contribute to providing decent conditions for migration back to their home countries.

We are certain that measures directed at restoring historic justice in relations between nations will contribute to further harmonisation, establishment of national and social consent in the society.