Yanukovych calling Declaration of Sovereignty turning point in Ukraine's history

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has made an address to the Ukrainian people on the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Ukraine.

"Dear compatriots, today we celebrate the twenty-third anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Ukraine. This document was the starting point of the modern stage of the Ukrainian state and became a turning point in the history of our people," reads the statement published on the president's Web site on Tuesday.

Yanukovych said the adoption of the declaration "was a vivid manifestation of the will of Ukrainians for freedom and a decisive step towards gaining independence by our state."

"Based on the principles stated in the declaration, we are building a modernized democratic legal state that will ensure a decent future for every citizen," the Ukrainian president said.

On July 16, 1990, the Supreme Council of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic adopted the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Ukraine. The declaration was signed by First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council Ivan Plusch, as the post of chairman was vacant at the time.

"The Supreme Council of the Ukrainian SSR... proclaims the state sovereignty of Ukraine as the rule, independence, integrity and indivisibility of the authority of the republic within its territory and independence and equality in external relations," the declaration says.

The day of its adoption was declared a national holiday – Independence Day. In this capacity, it was celebrated once on July 16, 1991. On August 24 of that year, the Supreme Council of the USSR adopted the Act of Declaration of Independence of Ukraine, and thereafter this date became the Independence Day of Ukraine.