US Ambassador in Ukraine Carlos Pascual made a three-day trip to the Crimea. He visited Simferopol and Sevastopol, meeting with local and central peninsular authorities, representatives of the opposition, going to Alushta to attend the festivities marking the centenary of this spa, and visiting the grave of Ismail Gasprinsky in Bakhchysarai. During his meeting with peninsular parliamentary Speaker Borys Deich, Carlos Pascual said he had set for himself three homework assignments to foster cooperation with the Crimea, the speaker’s Press Secretary Halyna Hromyk told The Day. First, Mr. Pascual will assess the possibility of expanding US humanitarian assistance to the Crimea. Second, the autonomous republic should be aid to develop its small and middle businesses, and, third, US should assist the Crimea in attracting investment in the tourist sector. In a jocular manner, the fourth assignment was given to the distinguished guest by the speaker: let American tourists come to the Crimea.
The US ambassador did not hide his interest in recent political developments on the peninsula, calling the most noticeable the change in political climate. Earlier, he said (the ambassador was last in the Crimea nine months ago) he sensed very pronounced tension there. “I could feel how difficult it was for various political and ethnic groups to find common ground in order to start cooperation. Now I see that both at the level of Crimea’s legislature and regional authorities the political life has shifted toward the center. This opens the way for a constructive dialogue and joint cooperation,” Ambassador Pascual told journalists. “We wish all the best to those persons who are out to improve the political climate in the Crimea,” he stressed. In his view, now the Crimean authorities of various levels are faced with more optimistic prospects than before.
To better run the economy and create a more favorable business environment, the US ambassador proposed inviting technical experts from the US Agency For International Development (US AID) now working in Ivano-Frankivsk and Mykolayiv (where reforms, in his opinion, are going well) to assist the Crimean authorities.
While in the Crimea, the US ambassador also declared that on Ukraine’s way to NATO of paramount importance will be achieving economic growth and the further development of democracy. Answering a question whether Russia’s Black Sea Fleet now stationed on Ukraine’s territory would become a hurdle to the country’s accession to NATO, he said that defense issues, important as they are, are not crucial for joining the alliance. Of much more value for applicant countries, the ambassador said, is to demonstrate their commitment to democracy and attain significant economic growth. In his opinion, Ukraine’s intention to integrate into NATO will eventually spark a more intensive dialogue between Ukraine and the West on issues of the rule of law and freedom of the press. Ambassador Pascual stressed, “There was no policy of isolation of Ukraine, there was a very specific strategic and political stance of the US government.”
Following the tragic September 11 events, the lists of security priorities for Ukraine and other countries have undergone major changes, the American envoy believes. In the case of Ukraine, it was the increasing awareness of the need to integrate into NATO. On the other hand, the rapprochement between Russia and NATO has removed the long-standing argument that Ukraine cannot rub shoulders with the West too closely because this could cause friction in its relations with Russia, the US ambassador said. In the wake of the decision by the National Defense and Security Council of Ukraine stating plans to integrate into the NATO, “much will depend on Ukraine’s subsequent steps confirming how this declaration on changing Ukraine’s strategic geopolitical priorities translates into deeds,” he said.
