Three statements Ukrainian Foreign Minister Anatoly Zlenko made at a press conference on the meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Organization for Black Sea Economic Cooperation states sounded more than symptomatic. First, he announced that Ukraine would not join the Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC) because no country can simultaneously be members of several customs unions. He also said that the coming demarcation of the Ukrainian-Russian border is a normal process and nothing to fear. Also noteworthy is his statement that Ukraine will explore the possibility of sending its peacekeepers to the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict area. This is only a declaration of position, which for some reason official Kyiv was very much afraid to voice before the last elections.
“Ukraine has chosen its union, the European Union,” Minister Zlenko said. He confirmed his full support for Foreign Ministry State Secretary Oleksandr Chaly, who said it was impossible to join the EU and the EAEC simultaneously, which led Russian Ambassador to Ukraine Viktor Chernomyrdin to make quite a less than diplomatic comment on this matter. Mr. Zlenko also advised earlier not to jump to conclusions: first after the presidents of Ukraine, Russia, and Moldova in Odesa signed a joint statement saying that full membership of Ukraine and Moldova in the EAEC would promote economic development, breathe new life into the free trade area and raise the living standards of these countries and later after Russian Premier Kasianov advised Ukraine to enter the Eurasian community. He estimated Ukraine’s accession at $170 million which Russia would lose by lifting the export duty on oil in this case but noted that Ukraine’s Eurasian status would be very desirable in the geopolitical aspect. Prime Minister Anatoly Kinakh of Ukraine said immediately after returning from Moscow that Ukraine would make the final decision on this issue, proceeding from the national interest. Commenting on the document signed in Odesa, diplomatic sources note that “circumstances should be taken into account” and that the document was not drawn up in Kyiv, Chisinau, or Odesa. As to the price of Ukraine’s EAEC membership, the same sources claim that as recently as last winter Moscow appraised Ukraine at least three times higher. The conclusions are self-explanatory.
As to the Ukrainian-Russian border, Mr. Zlenko’s assurance that we have nothing to fear was preceded by the statement of Russian First Deputy Foreign Minister Loshchinin that demarcation meant setting up a network of palisades and protective enclosures. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Deputy State Secretary Volodymyr Yelchenko commented to the Forum online publication that Ukraine is surprised by the Russian diplomat’s statement and that this was an awkward metaphor, which is groundless in terms of international law. Like his subordinate Yelchenko, Minister Zlenko confirmed that, while establishing its state border, Ukraine would fully comply with international standards and pointed out that the borders between EU member states have also been delimited and demarcated without hindering the free movement of their citizens. He added that rules of the game (establishing an easy procedure of crossing the borders once they are demarcated) concerning the Ukrainian-Russian border demarcation must and will be adopted. The border has always been one of the most delicate problems in bilateral relations, with practically all ministers of foreign affairs stumbling over it. While earlier, Moscow was reluctant to begin delimitation of the borders in general, now it is hindering delimitation of sea borders, but what Russia is most categorically opposed to is demarcation of the border as such. Zlenko’s words suggest that Ukraine has decided to show itself sticking to principles and play by its own rules. The only question is how long these principles will last and where their limits are.
Principle is also clearly being displayed in the context of probable support for Georgia’s efforts to have the Russian peacekeeping force in the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict area replaced by a contingent from other CIS countries, which Moscow also opposes. Until recently, Kyiv did not take any clear position on this issue, while simultaneously assuring Tbilisi of its support. Minister Zlenko promised that should Georgia request Ukraine send its peacekeepers, this request will be considered “in the spirit of our friendly relations” and Ukraine will be guided by the existing standards.
Principle could be quite a good thing if it were combined with consistency, if, for instance, there had been an adequate reaction to the improper comments of some Russian officials on the eve of the elections, if there was no impression that each Ukrainian leader pursues a foreign policy of his own, if we did not have to ponder what and whose statement the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will “interpret” next time, especially when it concerns our Eurasian status, relations with Russia, and, of course, the eternal question of whether Ukraine will really be able to play its own fair and consistent game.
