Although Ukraine managed to avoid total international isolation, trust in it has been undermined. Though not Belarus, Ukraine is not what it used to be even a year ago. This roughly describes Ukraine in the international arena in 2002. In the light of the US accusations of the alleged supplies of the Kolchuga early warning systems to Iraq, Ukraine entered the new foreign political year in a quite poor shape. How and when can Ukraine win its good name back? What else, except refuting the Kolchuga accusations, determined Ukraine’s foreign policy? Upon The Day’s request, Foreign Minister Anatoly ZLENKO has drawn certain conclusions regarding Ukraine’s foreign political activity.
1. What was Ukraine’s biggest foreign policy success in 2002? 2. What was its biggest failure? 3. What foreign policy problems is Ukraine carrying over into the new year? In what way and how soon can they be solved? 4. In the current situation, who, in your opinion, Ukraine will join sooner — the Collective Security Treaty or NATO, the EurAsEC or EU?
2. Despite the complicated and often not so favorable foreign political situation and delicate internal political situation, the bottom line of Ukraine’s foreign political activity in 2002 is further advancement of our national interests in the world. It has been largely due to new ties in the political, economic, scientific, and technical spheres, which have been used to promote multifaceted economic development of the country. As I see it, the Euro-Atlantic direction in the foreign policy sphere was the most favorable for us this year. We have worked out a new strategy for our relationship with NATO and have given a definitive answer to the question as to our orientation toward membership in this organization. This was a crucial decision which filled up the last gap in the system of our priorities. Notably, NATO has voiced support for our Euro-Atlantic aspirations. The approval of the President’s annual message, entitled the European Choice of Ukraine, marked a groundbreaking event. This document clarified many fundamental issues of Ukraine’s integration with Europe. A 9.3% increase in our trade turnover with EU member states this year is graphic evidence of the positive trend in our relationship with the EU. The GUUAM summit in Yalta, where it received a new lease on life, marked a major event this year. Speaking of other major achievements, we have gained a foothold in new markets of Asia, Africa, and Central America, resolved scores of problem issues with Russia, and, on the whole, shifted our relations onto a systemic and predictable basis.
3. As for the Kolchuga scandal and a certain degree of tension lingering in the relations with the US, this is a major problem affecting many other issues. Eliminating the consequences of the said scandal as well as shifting the dialog from the plane of incriminations into the plane of constructive cooperation will be the ultimate goal of our diplomatic offices for the months to come.
4. There are problems ensuing from the current complications in our relations with the US, in part, the possible temporary restriction on our movement toward Euro- Atlantic and European integration. Among the immediate goals are a constructive dialog with the enlarged EU, liberalization of the visa regime with the prospective EU member states, implementation of documents endorsed at the NATO summit in Prague, and protection of our citizens’ interests. And to enumerate all issues to be addressed would be as inappropriate as setting specific dates when they will be resolved.
5. Though I am not accustomed to the role of a political oracle, I believe that of the organizations you have named we, in all probability, will first join NATO. When this will happen is a different question. I don’t see Ukraine joining the Collective Security Treaty of EurAsEC, either. This runs counter to our strategic interests. As for the EU membership, today it is hard to tell when this will happen, in part, in view of the current situation. As for NATO, our aspirations tally with the open door policy pursued by the Alliance. We must work hard to meet their standards. There is nothing impossible. Much depends on us.
