During his two-day visit to the Slovak Republic President Viktor Yushchenko announced that Ukraine is satisfied with the dynamics of its bilateral relations with Slovakia. Now the two sides are planning to focus on establishing cross-border cooperation and developing energy projects. “We have noted that our bilateral relations are at the proper level, and we are satisfied with the intensity and dynamics of the dialogue in the political, economic, commercial, and humanitarian sense,” Ukraine’s head of state said.
President Ivan Gasparovic of Slovakia pointed out that his country is always ready to help Ukraine adapt itself on its path to European and Euro-Atlantic integration. Thus, the new program to assist Ukraine’s adaptation to European structures, adopted by the Slovak government in April 2007, is a positive event.
As for bilateral trade links, the two sides noted the significant level of trade turnover, which has surpassed the 1.2 billion dollar mark. “This is a landmark in our trade and economic relations,” Yushchenko emphasized. He added that the two sides discussed a number of top- priority issues and mapped out specific reciprocal commitments that will be studied and implemented soon. Some of these issues are visa requirements, education, and some economic projects. In the course of the negotiations the two countries’ relevant ministries were instructed to study and propose concrete decisions on joint border customs control. “In the economic sphere, our joint priority is the development of a number of projects,” President Yushchenko said. With regard to the educational sector, the two countries want to solve the problem of reciprocal recognition of Ukrainian and Slovak higher educational diplomas and degrees.
The two sides did not ignore the painful question of the Kryvy Rih-based Oxidized Ore Refining Mill. During the Soviet era the Slovak Republic invested substantial funds into building this facility. “I expressed Ukraine’s position that the outcome of this project will be decided transparently and in consultation with the project participants, including the Slovak state,” the Ukrainian president said.
In a speech to Slovak businessmen President Yushchenko stressed that Ukraine and Slovakia should make every effort to solve the problems “that are hindering our dynamic progress. The Slovak Republic will always have Ukraine as a devoted partner and friend. I am proud that we can pursue a policy that suits both of our nations,” he said.
He also noted that one of the most pressing problems in bilateral relations is the need to sign an agreement on small-scale cross- border traffic. Yushchenko emphasized that such a document will regulate the visa-free movement of individuals residing 50 km from the Ukraine-Slovak border.
The president of Ukraine also called respect for the shared history of the two countries another important aspect of cooperation. On Oct. 13 Yushchenko handed Gasparovic declassified lists of Slovaks who died in 1944-54 on the territory of Ukraine.
COMMENTARY
Svitlana MITRIAIEVA, director of the regional branch of the National Institute of Strategic Studies, Uzhhorod:
“Among the promising areas of Ukraine-Slovak relations is cooperation in the energy sector and transit of energy resources. This means not only increased supplies of Ukrainian electrical power to Slovakia but also implementation of the Euroasian Oil Transportation Corridor project, now part of the EU’s energy security strategy, as well as supplies of Caspian oil through the Odesa-Brody pipeline across Slovakia’s territory to oil refineries in the Czech Republic and other European countries, which will allow Ukraine and Slovakia to use their oil transportation capacities more effectively. Ukraine annually exports 500 million kWh of electricity to Slovakia. But Slovakia is interested in increasing this export because of its shortage of electricity and the fact that this problem is going to become more acute after the routine shutdown of two nuclear power plant reactors and increased consumption of electricity by new car factories. The two sides are planning to increase the export of electricity to two or three billion kWh a year.
“In 2007-13 Slovakia is going to receive investments from the EU, the largest in its history. The major part of these investments is being channeled into Slovakia and Ukraine’s cross-border cooperation within the ENPI framework. This requires further efforts to coordinate cross-border cooperation and development of the two countries’ border regions so that EU financial instruments can be applied as effectively as possible on both sides of the border, as well as to develop a cross-border infrastructure.
“Now that Ukraine has held negotiations with other EU states that border on this country, it is important for us to see our neighbors’ common, well-considered, and consolidated position in this matter. A constructive approach to local cross-border traffic could go a long way toward cushioning the results of the new visa-issue restrictions that were introduced after Ukraine’s EU neighbors, including Slovakia, joined the Schengen space.
“A simplified border-crossing procedure would make it much easier to tackle the problem of human, cultural, and entrepreneurial contacts, the cornerstone of regional cross-border cooperation, which in turn would further promote the formation of a single European humanitarian space on both sides of the border.
“What is extremely important in this context is the speedy introduction of local cross-border traffic as soon as a neighboring country joins the Schengen space - in the area that truly embraces cross-border cooperation. This agreement should include cities and villages on the Ukrainian and the Slovak side, which will be treated as centers of cross-border cooperation.
“Another key point of bilateral Ukrainian-Slovak relations in general and cross-border cooperation in particular, as well as from the standpoint of shaping regional policies (both in Ukraine and Slovakia), is the problem of ethnic minorities (Ukrainians in Slovakia and Slovaks in Ukraine).
“This year Slovakia adopted a high-profile government program to support Slovaks residing abroad, which will be valid until 2015. It calls for an essential increase in financial, material, and technical assistance to Slovak centers abroad, including those in Ukraine.
“Ukraine is now implementing its own state program of cooperation with Ukrainians residing abroad. Approved by a cabinet resolution on July 26, 2006, and valid until 2010, this program makes it possible to ensure long-term concrete support for Ukrainians living abroad as carriers of the Ukrainian language, culture, and intellect, and to help them preserve their ethnic and cultural identity and strengthen their ties with Ukraine.
“Intensifying cross-border cooperation is an instrument aimed at supporting the Ukrainian minority in Slovakia and the Slovak minority in Ukraine. Of great importance is the implementation of the Regional Program of Cooperation with Foreign-Based Ukrainians (effective until 2010) and the Program of Cross-Border Cooperation in Zakarpattia oblast, recently adopted by the Zakarpattia Oblast Council.
