This year Ukraine, as the head of the OSCE, has a lot of reasons to assert itself on the international and domestic arenas. Another opportunity to do that was the conference “The Role of International Organizations in the Security of Ukraine,” which took place on September 16 in the Diplomatic Academy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs initiated by Razumkov Center and NATO Liaison Office in Ukraine.
In his 16-minute speech, which he called subjective observations, Foreign Minister of Ukraine Leonid Kozhara was mainly talking about Ukraine’s role in international organizations, in particular, about Ukraine’s priorities during its presidency in the OSCE. Certainly, it is also important, especially the issues Ukraine will touch upon during its presidency and the initiatives it will bring to various international organizations positioning itself as a responsible player.
The minister reminded that Ukraine has a rich experience of participation in UN operations. According to Kozhara, during this period of time over 34,000 Ukrainian militaries and policemen have performed their honorable peacemaking mission. “We are going to consolidate this contribution. The time of transborder threats and piracy, terrorism, cybercrimes, massive weapons trading, and drug traffic precondition the necessity of constructive partnership between Ukraine and NATO,” Kozhara said. According to him, in several days the flagship of naval forces of Ukraine Hetman Sahaidachny is supposed to leave Sevastopol to join NATO’s Ocean Shield Operation in order to fight piracy in the area of the Horn of Africa and the gulf.
The chief of Ukrainian diplomats informed the participants of the conference that by the date the Verkhovna Rada has a draft of the corresponding law to ratify the agreement between Ukraine and NATO as for our participation in this operation. According to him, this draft is going to be examined on September 19.
Kozhara also said that now Ukraine is considering offers on participation in operations led by the EU. Ukraine is ready to contribute into European global security, he emphasized.
On the other hand, it is impossible to ignore his words that the number of international and regional organizations, in particular, the EU and CE, play an important role stimulating reforms inside Ukraine and spreading the democratic standards in our country.
Having signed the Association Agreement in Vilnius, Kozhara emphasized, Ukraine will get the best tools for democratic transformations within the country. He mentioned the leading role of the European Council and its institutions in reforming the Ukrainian legislation on the basis of European norms and standards. “One of the main factors of trust and international security strengthening,” the minister continued, “is the active commercial and economic cooperation, liberalization of trade legislation, and making standards in this sphere closer. Signing of the Association Agreement will serve this purpose; however, we see our task as liberalization of trade in different formats within various international and regional organizations. Removing trade barriers was one of Ukraine’s priorities during its presidency in the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation and it is one of Ukraine’s priority goals in GUAM. In our cooperation with regional CIS organizations (Eurasian Economic Union, Customs Union) we proceed from the understanding that trade, investments and cooperation are the key to the security of wellbeing on the large geopolitical space. We continue deepening and improving the free-trade area within CIS and objectively this will be one of the priorities of Ukraine’s presidency in CIS next year. I strongly believe that despite pessimistic forecast signing the Association Agreement will become an important security factor in the East European region. In future it will definitely help to harmonize the relations in the triangle of the EU, Ukraine, and Russia.”
Kozhara explained his opinion concerning the abovementioned triangle saying that the aim to create the unified economic and humanitarian space from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, repeatedly claimed by the EU and Russia, is still topical which means that rapprochement of Ukraine and the EU based on the Association Agreement does not contradict those intentions but can stimulate their realization.
Deputy Secretary-General of NATO Alexander Vershbow in his video message from the Brussels headquarters remarked that the issue of Ukraine’s national security and its relations with international organizations is important and the recent developments in Ukraine, Russia, Moldova, and Armenia make it yet more important.
“The Vilnius Summit for Eastern Partnership is coming,” he said, “and we have to remember the fundamental principle of Helsinki Final Act, which is the key element of the national security and sovereignty, it says that every nation is free to build its relations with partners on its own choice.”
Deputy Secretary-General emphasized that though Kyiv is not considering joining NATO, over the past three years the cooperation between Ukraine and NATO has become much more intensive and productive than before. According to Vershbow, Ukraine has significantly contributed into heading NATO’s operations in Kosovo and Afghanistan. He emphasized that Ukraine was one of the first countries that promised to join the new post-2014 mission to assist the Afghan security forces.”
Deputy Secretary-General also mentioned that Ukraine is participating in the anti-piracy operation Ocean Shield sending later in autumn the flagship of the Ukrainian navy Hetman Sahaidachny to the Mediterranean Sea. After the rotation is finished at the end of December, this ship will be involved into the anti-piracy operation Atalanta under the egis of the EU.
According to Vershbow, it is possible due to the fact that this ship has reached the level of interoperability, necessary for the coordinated cooperation with NATO and the EU.
“We can also see the results of our efforts in developing closer and more effective relations with other international organizations, not only the EU, but also UN and OSCE. Ukraine has made its historical choice to join the European family of nations. It has proved to be a reliable partner who is completely ready to assume a part of the burden supporting the international security, including skilful presidency in OSCE this year,” Vershbow emphasized.
Leading analyst of the Institute for Euro-Atlantic Cooperation, expert for international and domestic policy of Ukraine, editor-in-chief of the website www.euroatlantica.info Volodymyr Horbach opines that, unfortunately, Ukraine does not use international tools to guarantee the national security. According to him, Ukraine skillfully acts when it is needed to join some international organization, create new free-trade areas or visa-free regime with some country. “As for creativity, he emphasized, Ukraine can cope with the tasks it sets. However, as for its work within international organizations there are enormous problems. After having joined this or that organization Ukraine hardly ever acts logically or pragmatically. It mainly settles for a membership status and sees joining an organization as the finish of its activity and this is the main problem.”
The expert also said that he does not see the difference in Ukraine’s approaches to international organizations with the change of governments and the institutional memory of forgetfulness is inherited, Horbach added.
He opines that Ukraine’s presidency in OSCE did not change its international position and Ukraine did not gain any prestige or international weight. These are mainly rituals that do not bring any profit to Ukraine, the expert assures.
“As for Ukraine’s cooperation with NATO, Horbach remarked, it mainly provides benefit to the Alliance that is why they value it and make accent on it whenever possible. However, it does not bring Ukraine any closer to enjoying advantages of the full-fledged membership in NATO since those who contribute to security not always can enjoy it, and Ukraine is a striking example of this.”
