By tradition, days before finishing his posting to Ukraine, Ivan Pocuch, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Czech Republic to Ukraine, gave an interview to The Day. After five years in this country, Mr. Pocuch had a very good idea about the domestic situation.
PRIME MINISTER SOBOTKA MADE IT CLEAR THERE WERE NO GROUNDS FOR LIFTING SANCTIONS
Vice President Joe Biden told the Council on Foreign Relations in New York: “We know that if they [Ukraine] give an excuse to the EU, there are at least five countries right now that want to say ‘We want out,’” referring to the sanctions on Russia over the aggression against Donbas and annexation of Crimea, also to Ukraine’s protracted reforms. Is your country among those five?
“I don’t think that Mr. Biden meant the Czech Republic, considering that our government has taken a clear cut stand in the matter. Let me remind you that Prime Minister Sobotka told a regular meeting of ambassadors in late August that there were no grounds as yet for the lifting of sanctions, as there was no progress in the implementation of Minsk II to warrant a serious discussion of the possibility. The problem is that, for the European Normandy Format partners, Minsk II was an illusory political way of settling the conflict.
“I instantly realized that some of the clauses would never be implemented. Minsk I had a clause about Ukraine and Russia jointly establishing a buffer zone involving part of the Ukraine-Russia frontier that was not under Ukraine’s control. Clause 9 of Minsk II reads that Ukraine will receive control over that area on the date following that of the so-called local elections, and after making amendments to the constitution, concerning the special status of separate areas in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. I asked myself how all this could be accomplished without making one hundred percent security arrangements, including withdrawal of heavy weapons and POW exchange.
“Another problem with Minsk II is that both parties to the Trilateral Contact Group keep interpreting what has been done and by whom their own different ways. Whatever steps Ukraine takes, there are the representatives of the self-styled DNR and LNR with their own interpretations that do not allow the political process to follow a normal course.
“I don’t think that we need Minsk III, as this agreement would only serve to interpret the political clauses of Minsk II.”
NO ONE CAN BAN UKRAINE’S RAPPROCHEMENT WITH EU
In other words, it all depends on what Moscow has to say. The question then is how to make Russia fulfill its part of Minsk II, isn’t it?
“Settling this conflict is rooted in the recognition of Ukraine’s territorial integrity. In fact, Moscow doesn’t argue this point, but they want to have a part of Ukrainian territory with a special, preferential status, in order to influence Ukraine’s domestic and foreign policies.
“The EU’s foreign policy is in a phase very much like that of the United States after WW I, what became known as Wilsonianism. Just as the US did at the time, the EU is focusing its foreign policy on principles and values, rather than specific geopolitical or other interests. Paradoxically, this serves to aggravate the situation.
“When the Eastern Partnership was established in 2009, the key idea was to develop cooperation between the member countries, former Soviet countries, for their mutual benefit, including Russia, as well as for the benefit of the European Union. Russia, unfortunately, saw it as a geopolitical lever allegedly to be used to take away those territories. That didn’t correspond to the strategic objective. We have to cope with a situation in which Russia keeps saying that the former Soviet countries must remain under a degree of Kremlin control.
“Among the principles and values of the EU’s foreign policy is the right of every member country to make its own strategic choice. Ukraine has decided on rapprochement with the EU, saying it wants to eventually become a member. No one can ban this decision. On the other hand, we’re witness to events in the second decade of the 21st century that truly belong to the turn of the 19th century – I mean acts of aggression and military conflicts.”
Is the European Union supporting these efforts of Ukraine? The Association Agreement remains to be ratified in full because of the Amsterdam referendum.
“It is not fully ratified, formally, but it is actually being implemented. For example, the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area has been in effect since 2015. Compared to the institutional aspects, the political one of the Association Agreement comes first. This is a road map for your domestic progress, for your reforms.”
CZECH REPUBLIC BACKS CANCELING VISAS FOR UKRAINIANS
Kostiantyn Yeliseiev, deputy head of the Presidential Administration, said at a recent briefing that Ukraine had fulfilled all the 144 requirements to be granted a visa-free regime. EU is putting off a decision on the matter and some in Ukraine believe that the Union isn’t keeping its promise. Would you care to comment on this?
“Mr. Yeliseiev was right when he said that Ukraine had formally fulfilled the requirements set forth by the EU to discuss the matter and make a decision. However, the fact that making the final decision must be preceded by implementation appears to be often overlooked in Ukraine. In some countries, cancellation of the visa regime, implementation, and monitoring have taken several years. Political factors should also be considered.
“In this case, Ukraine – or the way it is meeting these requirements – isn’t the problem. The problem is that the European Parliament and the European Union are into a political debate concerning ways to suspend visa free procedures. In some cases (I don’t mean Ukraine), such procedures are believed to be abused. Some fear that the migration influx will emerge on a scope where certain nationals will use such visa free procedures not for tourism, but for illegal employment. These issues are within the Union’s jurisdiction and must be dealt with by its authorized bodies.
“I’d like to stress that the Czech Republic is supporting the idea of canceling visas for Ukrainians. I’m still refuting allegations by certain Ukrainian analysts that, should these visas be canceled, there would be no leverage or pressure for reforms in Ukraine. I say to them that we won’t act that way, we are not linking the first issue to the second one, simply because it relates to 45 million people.
“We must finally realize the importance of Ukraine for European security, for political progress within the European community of nations, in order to preserve the idea of the European Union, expand the sphere of political stability and economic well-being, and to have a United Europe. Ukraine cannot remain a European backwater country. It has made its strategic choice. It has embarked on a long winding and thorny road, but this remains Ukraine’s legitimate choice. No one can tamper with it and tell Ukraine to stop because history took this or that course.
“If Ukraine travels this road successfully, this will have an impact on the political future of other ex-Soviet countries, including Belarus, Moldova, and countries in Central Asia. This is a matter far beyond one presidency, maybe one generation.”
CURRENT UKRAINIAN ADMINISTRATION FACING TWO PROBLEMS
What do you think our political leadership should do to make Europe see how important Ukraine is for Europe?
“Your current administration is up against two problems. Mounting public distrust, considering the expectations placed and the disillusionment. You have wasted a lot of time. Today, no one can expect President Poroshenko, ex-Prime Minister Yatseniuk, his current successor Hroisman to overcome corruption in two years, restore the rule of law, and secure justice for one and all.
“It is important for the current political leadership to leave a positive heritage, rather than go down in history as politicians who missed their chance of making actual reforms. You have made progress. Miraculously, the Ukrainian economy didn’t fall to pieces and the banking sector keeps functioning after being on the verge of collapse. Let me put it simply. Your man in the street must believe, see with his own eyes that the same rules apply to all social strata. If he sees that the people he voted for are actually trying to solve the problem, even if step by step, showing results, then you will have the basis for political stability, regardless of who comes to power next.
“The second problem is that Europe doesn’t understand everything that’s happening in Ukraine. I haven’t seen a single newspaper article, a single public appearance by a Ukrainian diplomat in Prague – and this considering the strong influence of the Russian media, Moscow propaganda! People in the Czech Republic have forgotten most of what happened 25 years back, the fall of communism, the struggle for freedom and democracy. They no longer ask themselves about what happened in 1968, I mean the Soviet occupation. They remember nothing about what happened in 1945. They’re too busy solving personal problems like buying a car this or next year, throwing a barbecue party this or next weekend.
“It is important for a man in the street [in Europe] to realize that [Ukraine] is fighting for Europe’s freedom and political future. If we can’t preserve one principle, one objective underpinning the European Union, the right of each country to make its decision independently, how will we cope with all those problems that keep piling up?”
