Three years ago, on May 23, 2000, Ukraine for the first time openly declared its intention to join NATO. What has happened in the rather complicated intervening period? There was the Prague Summit, where, despite the unfavorable political atmosphere, the Ukraine-NATO Action Plan was adopted. This was followed by the Istanbul Summit, where, contrary to expectations, the format of cooperation between Ukraine and the alliance was not upgraded. Kyiv continued advancing in the Euro- Atlantic direction, surmounting numerous obstacles. It seemed as though this process was taking place in spite of, rather that owing to the efforts of Ukrainian government officials, since the proponents of the NATO course constituted an absolute minority. Three years elapsed before Ukraine was qualified by all formal criteria to embark on equal NATO membership procedures. This happened on April 21 in Vilnius, the capital of a former Soviet republic. One year ago the three Baltic countries — Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia — became NATO members. In many respects, the launch of a new format of cooperation between Kyiv and Brussels in Ukraine-friendly Vilnius appears symbolic in many ways.
“We did it together... Ukraine and NATO. We have transformed our relationship — this is now Intensified Dialogue on Membership Issues,” NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Schefffer told a news conference on April 21, after the Ukraine-NATO Commission’s meeting. Ukraine’s foreign minister stated that this marked the beginning of a new stage in relations between Kyiv and the alliance.
Needless to say, this new stage did not begin yesterday. The Ukrainian foreign minister emphasized this point in particular: “Ukraine is not beginning this new stage in our relations with NATO from the zero point. We have accumulated rather valuable experience through different mechanisms of cooperation, such as Partnership for Peace, individual partnership programs, the Charter on a Distinctive Partnership between Ukraine and NATO, Action Plan, and annual target plans. This experience of cooperation is advancing Ukraine toward NATO with respect to the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the Armed Forces of the alliance.” Intensified Dialogue is actually the first stage during which concrete steps will start being taken toward the aim of joining NATO. The next stage is the Membership Action Plan, and finally a formal invitation to join the alliance. The current intensified level envisages a number of economic, political, social, military, and defense reforms, as well as reforms in the civilian defense sectors. Mr. Tarasiuk believes these reforms could be implemented before 2008, and that these are “real terms”. As a matter of fact, no deadlines for Ukraine’s entry into NATO were mentioned. Mr. Scheffer noted that he wasn’t sure whether Ukraine would be admitted to the alliance after three years of reform, adding that NATO is prepared to assist Ukraine with its reform in every way. Mr. Tarasiuk, commenting on the kind of help Kyiv would need, said it would be NATO countries’ experience, especially that of the new members.
Further proof that both sides are prepared to take practical steps in the context of Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic integration is the adoption of a document envisaging measures to deepen such cooperation, entitled “Strengthening Cooperation between Ukraine and NATO: Short- Term Measures.” Mr. Tarasiuk says that this document does not replace the Target Plan. Its priorities include a policy of security, enhancement of democratic institutions, resumption of a political dialogue, deep-reaching reforms, and keeping society informed.
Was it easy to make decisions to expand the format of Ukraine-NATO cooperation on April 21? Diplomats believe that France is still opposed to Ukraine’s membership. Polish Foreign Minister Adam Rotfeld, however, avoided replying directly to this question. Foreign Minister Borys Tarasiuk stated that the formula proposed to Ukraine is the result of a consensus.
Further proof of concrete Ukraine-NATO cooperation is the signing on April 21 of a document concerning Ukraine’s participation in the antiterrorist Operation Active Endeavor. NATO’s Secretary General pointed out that by signing the document, Ukraine added solidity to its preparedness to contribute to the system of Euro-Atlantic security and once again demonstrated the strategic importance of relations with NATO.
Borys Tarasiuk announced that Secretary General Schefffer may visit Kyiv in early July. He also conveyed the Ukrainian president’s invitation to hold the next NATO Council meeting in Kyiv and suggested some time in September or October.
That same day the Ukrainian foreign minister met with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov. The Russian foreign minister addressed a news conference in Vilnius, twice emphasizing that every country has a right to choose which international organizations to join: “The choice of partners is the sovereign right of every country. The Russian dignitary’s comment was at odds with an earlier statement issued by the Russian foreign ministry, which stated that the entry into NATO by certain CIS countries is not desirable. Incidentally, NATO officials told Ukraine off the record that it should simply ignore Russia’s warning.
Borys Tarasiuk said that during his meeting with Sergei Lavrov (“my friend and colleague”) they discussed problems concerning the Russian Black Sea Fleet based in Ukraine. The Ukrainian foreign minister noted in particular that a commission to Sevastopil led by Deputy Foreign Minister Volodymyr Ohryzko last week found that the RBSF command is not honoring its obligations.
