Relations between Ukraine and Poland are increasingly characterized as extremely dynamic and based on complete mutual understanding. There are no taboo issues between the two countries. Ukraine and Poland are now considering how to prepare for new challenges. This was confirmed by the recent two-day official visit of President Lech Kaczynski of Poland to Ukraine, which began [on Dec. 6]. He and President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine signed a joint resolution on “Common Challenges and New Dimensions of Partnership.”
“Relations between Ukraine and Poland are very significant for us. We have made good progress in recent years, and I am pleased that these high dynamics are being supported today at the highest official level,” President Yushchenko said at a joint press conference. The composition of the delegations reveals the serious intentions of both sides. Ukraine [was] represented by Yurii Boiko, the Minister for Fuel and Energy, Viktor Korzh, Minister for Family, Youth, and Sport, and Oleksandr Chaly, deputy head of the Presidential Secretariat. Poland’s delegation [included] Miroslaw Drzewiecki, Minister of Sport and Tourism, and Waldemar Pawlak, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, who supervises the energy sector.
The Ukrainian president told the journalists that it is very important for Ukraine to hear that following the formation of a new government in Poland the strategy of our relations remains unchanged in all critical points. He said that one of the next challenges is to form a new procedure for organizing a common border and small trans- border movement. Yushchenko added that this issue was discussed with the Polish president, and both sides have planned to do everything necessary to be able to sign this agreement in December 2007.
The preparation of both countries for the Euro-2012 finals was also on the agenda. The Ukrainian president said that in the first quarter of 2008 a separate intergovernmental agreement will be signed, which will ensure the formal coordination of all issues concerning the preparations for Euro-2012.
Also discussed during the Polish leader’s visit was the extension of the Odesa-Brody oil pipeline to Gdansk and preparations for the Energy Summit to be held in Kyiv in 2008. Both presidents [visited] the Odesa Oil Terminal and the starting point of the oil pipeline. “We would like emphasize that Ukraine is diligent in meeting all its commercial obligations concerning this project,” explained Yushchenko referring to the aim of the trip.
He also said that several sensitive issues were raised during the talks, in particular, ownership of religious buildings and the Polish burial site in the village of Bykivnia. “We are proceeding from the fact that the joint processing of historical documents and adequate representation in the collective memory with regard to war victims and liberation movements are the duty of both parties. We will be careful, tactful, and deeply respectful of the memory of Polish victims on Ukrainian territory, and I was assured by my friend President Lech Kaczynski that they will maintain the same attitude, as they have done until now,” said Yushchenko.
In his turn, the Polish president underlined that the development of Ukraine-Poland relations is the model for relations between interconnected nations, both of which are on the way to finding their place in the framework of the same structures. Kaczynski emphasized that Poland is an ardent supporter of Ukraine’s aspirations to join NATO and that Ukraine will be part of the EU and NATO, which is the basis of our relations. “We believe that this path is completely well-founded, but of course it is up to the Ukrainian people to decide,” he said, adding that both sides would like to demonstrate that such relations may be very close and jointly resolve many problems in the future.
“We can talk calmly about the past and calmly commemorate the heroes on both sides. Our relations and history have not been easy, but, as you can see, we are an example of two countries that are not impeded by this fact, countries that deal with these issues on an everyday basis,” said the Polish president. He promised that Poland will do its utmost to avoid creating complications for the movement of Ukrainians after Poland joins the Schengen borderless zone.
Kaczynski reminded his audience that Poland is interested in transporting oil via the new oil pipeline. “We want to show that Poland serves as a transit country for all-Ukraine, Georgia, and Azerbaijan-linking them to Europe.” He said that the 2006 initiative for extending the oil pipeline is making very good progress and that this goal will be achieved.
