The main goal of Ukrainian foreign policy will consist in “an active search for new, nonstandard approaches, instruments, and mechanisms for the implementation” of its foreign policy course, said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Anatoly Zlenko in his first public speech to representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Ukraine.
The minister reminded his audience of President Leonid Kuchma’s statement that Ukraine’s course toward European integration remains a priority, Interfax-Ukraine reports. In this connection, admitting the ineffectiveness of “purely declarative diplomacy,” Mr. Zlenko said that Ukraine will work for “the materialization of its European choice” in concrete forms, so that this choice would ensure the European community’s understanding and support.
Zlenko said that imbuing the relations between Ukraine and its strategic partners with real content will remain an important task. At this point he stressed that such strategic partnerships will be based on the principles of “mutual respect and confidence, with full attention to the national interests.” On the whole, Ukrainian foreign policy will be directed toward supporting “the internal development of this country, safeguarding its interests and its national security.” The Foreign Ministry will work to create “favorable geopolitical conditions for Ukraine’s stable and secure internal development.”
Ukrainian foreign policy will continue to be “consistently and maximally pragmatic, close to the main requirements of this country’s development,” his speech to the ambassadors continued. Simultaneously, Ukrainian foreign policy will remain multi-vectored and well-balanced regarding all countries of the world, and above all its neighbors.
Ukraine, he continued, as a European state will strive to play an active role in the construction of the architecture of European security, utilizing its membership in the OSCE and Partnership for Peace program. In its work his ministry retains the same priority, which is to imbue every sector of foreign relations with economic content.
Incidentally, when introducing Zlenko as Foreign Minister, Leonid Kuchma said that Ukrainian foreign policy should be based on realism, consideration of national interests, and achieving concrete results. Thus, the work of the Ukrainian diplomatic corps should be focused on carrying out such tasks as creating a favorable investment climate, expanding investment volumes, protecting Ukraine’s domestic market, its entry into other markets, minimizing the consequences of EU enlargement for Ukraine, removing trade and other barriers between Ukraine and European Community, and deepening economic cooperation with the EU. In addition, President Kuchma views the need to find “an effective algorithm for relations with Russia” as one of the Foreign Ministry’s key tasks.
