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<TITLE>Hennadi Udovenko</TITLE>
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<CENTER> <FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+3">NATO
Enlargement, Ukraine and European Security</FONT></FONT></FONT></CENTER>
<CENTER><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+2">Ukrainian
Minister for Foreign Affairs Hennadi Udovenko</FONT></FONT></FONT></CENTER>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000"></FONT></FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">It is an honor for me to
address you today when important events in the development of European
security and in Ukraine's international activities are taking place. We
meet here shortly after the Sintra Ministerial, where important decisions
were made on how to advance NATO's internal and external adaptation to the
realities of the European security environment within the context of the
enlargement process, the development of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership
Council (EAPC), and the enhanced PFP institutions. The enlargement process
will become a practical matter in the very near future. We are only days
away from the Madrid Summit, and the decisions made there will definitely
affect overall Euro-Atlantic security development. However, the
enlargement of the North Atlantic Alliance should not be considered as a
final and universal solution to all problems relating to Euro-Atlantic
security.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">While we believe
enlargement to be the biggest political event of the last years of the
20th century, we do not believe it will meet all the stability and
security challenges of the region. It is only one, albeit a very
important, element of continuing, complicated work in this direction. But
this effort will go on because, as we all agreed several years ago, in
order for European security to be effective and viable, it must be
comprehensive, indivisible, and inclusive.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<CENTER>
<H4><B><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">STRENGTHENING
UKRAINIAN AND EUROPEAN SECURITY</FONT></FONT></B></H4></CENTER>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">Ukrainian independence is
a relatively new political phenomenon in today's Europe, but one that has
already considerably changed the geopolitical image of Central and Eastern
Europe and of our continent as a whole. As mentioned in many NATO
documents, Ukraine has also become a most important factor in European
security. This status is a result not only of Ukraine's geopolitical
location and importance, but of its practical contribution to the
enhancement of regional and wider European stability and security.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">The goal of Ukraine's
foreign policy is eventual integration with major European and
Euro-Atlantic structures. A high priority is strengthening relations with
all its neighbors, first of all with Russia. We are convinced that meeting
these objectives will make a substantial contribution to peace and the
stability process in Europe. In that regard, I would like to note several
important events that we believe considerably strengthen Ukraine's
security posture as well as contribute to the conditions needed for a
qualitatively new, more stable, and secure geopolitical situation in
Europe.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">1. <I>The approval and
initialing, on May 29 at the Sintra NAC Ministerial, of the Ukraine-NATO
Special Partnership Charter.</I> It has been about two years since
President Kuchma put forward the idea of a special partnership between
Ukraine and the Alliance. From an uncertain beginning we went on to do
serious joint work that produced good results. Signing the charter at the
Madrid Summit would be an important step in promoting indivisibility in
European security, as well as furthering stability and shared democratic
values in Central and Eastern Europe.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">Why is this charter so
important for Ukraine? I am pleased to note, here in Prague, in the heart
of Europe, that in the charter Ukraine is at last officially recognized as
an integral part of Central and Eastern Europe, and as one of the "key
factors" for ensuring stability in this region and on the continent
as a whole. But the charter is not only important for Ukraine. By
accepting Ukraine's proposal to formalize special partnership relations
with her, the Alliance has once again showed its ability and willingness
to adapt to new post-Cold War realities and to take into account the
position of Partner countries during the course of its transformation. I
believe that the Ukraine-NATO Charter, along with the NATO-Russia Founding
Act and future NATO enlargement, will pave the way for a more consolidated
and cooperative European security.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">2. <I>The opening in
Ukraine, on May 7, of the first NATO Information and Documentation Center.</I>
This center, we believe, was the right step at the right time in the right
direction. It is not a secret that opinions about NATO enlargement and
about NATO itself differ greatly among the newly independent states on the
territory of the former Soviet Union. Just recently I presented the issue
of Ukraine-NATO relations to a session of the Ukrainian parliament. When I
mentioned that NATO had never committed any aggression throughout its
history, the left-wing audience erupted noisily. This was open evidence of
how deeply negative Soviet public opinion of NATO was. Such situations
show that we need joint efforts to overcome the sad heritage of the former
era of confrontation, and the activities of the NATO Information Center
should be valuable contributions to this goal.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">3. <I>Launching the
activities of the Kuchma-Gore Interstate Commission, implementing the
strategic partnership between Ukraine and the U.S.</I></FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">4. <I>The signing, during
President Kwasniewski's visit to Ukraine, of the historic Declaration of
the Presidents of Ukraine and Poland "Towards Reconciliation and
Unity between Poles and Ukrainians." </I>The declaration brings our
bilateral relations to a new level and is evidence of both peoples'
understanding of the hard lessons in their complicated history.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">5. <I>The meeting of five
presidents of the CEE states (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and
Ukraine) in Tallinn on May 27.</I> This meeting was the start of a new
form of regional cooperation.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">6. <I>The signing, on May
8 in Moscow, of the memorandum of the settlement of the Trans-Dnistrian
problem, the implementation of which is guaranteed by Ukraine, Russia, and
OSCE.</I> The signing of this memorandum is another important step toward
regional stability. And the memorandum has already been put to work. A
visit by the leader of Trans-Dnistria, Mr. Smirnov, took place in Ukraine,
aimed at launching the restoration of closer economic cooperation.
Participation of Ukrainian peacekeepers in that area was also discussed.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">7. <I>The conclusion of
the border treaty between Ukraine and Belarus, a first step for Ukraine in
settling this important issue with the former Soviet Republics.</I></FONT></FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">8. <I>The signing of the
Framework Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation, and Partnership with the
Russian Federation during President Yeltsin's first official visit to
Ukraine, the main event in Ukraine's international political life. </I>The
treaty is of exceptional importance to Ukraine because it sets up a
legislative basis for relations with our largest and closest neighbor, and
confirms the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the inviolability of its
borders. The treaty also has a wider international dimension. We are
grateful to all governments that expressed their appreciation of this
achievement as a considerable step in enhancing regional stability and
security.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">Shortly before President
Yeltsin's visit, Ukraine also signed agreements with Russia on the status
and conditions of stationing the Russian Black Sea Fleet on Ukrainian
territory and on the parameters of the Black Sea Fleet division. For five
years the Black Sea Fleet problem has been a subject of concern not only
for Ukraine and Russia but for the international community as well. By
signing these agreements we have managed to resolve one of the most
complicated problems of modern history to emerge after the collapse of the
former Soviet Union. Since President Yeltsin's visit Ukraine and Russia
have intensified their trade and economic contacts as well as negotiations
on border agreement issues. A number of important bilateral projects have
been developed that will soon be implemented and should bring additional
stability to the post-Soviet territories.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">9. <I>The signing, on
June 2 in the Romanian city of Constanta, of the big political treaty
between Ukraine and Romania, concluding one of the most difficult
negotiation processes conducted by Ukraine since obtaining independence.
</I>With the signing of this treaty there are no longer any so-called
historical problems of territorial division and borders between Ukraine
and its neighbors. Intensification of cooperation among Ukraine, Moldova,
and Romania has also been agreed to. The presidents of these countries
will meet to launch a number of Euro-regional projects to set up
free-trade zones and to intensify political, trade, economic, and cultural
cooperation. These efforts will be a substantive contribution to peace,
stability, and prosperity in this region.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<CENTER>
<H4><B><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">NATO AND THE EUROPEAN
SECURITY ARCHITECTURE</FONT></FONT></B></H4></CENTER>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">The decision in Madrid on
NATO enlargement and the signing of the NATO-Russia Founding Act and the
Ukraine-NATO Charter will create a qualitatively new security environment
in the transatlantic area and testify that the new NATO remains an
important player in European security development and maintenance. Opening
the Alliance to new members and implementing new Alliance missions will
have a strong effect on the European security environment. The newly
inaugurated Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council and the enhanced Partnership
for Peace will also be instrumental in promoting greater cooperation and
inclusiveness in European security measures. Ukraine welcomes former NACC
observers as full members in EAPC. It also considers the establishment of
a special partnership with NATO as a complementary, rather than a
competing, mechanism to the EAPC. We view with the same importance the
implementation of the NATO-Russia Founding Act provisions, which may help
significantly in building up a new security architecture in Europe.
Concerning NATO enlargement I would also like to say that the process
should remain open, transparent, and evolutionary, and that NATO doors
should be kept open for additional memberships.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">The most important issue
today is what NATO becomes after Madrid. Our understanding is that it will
be a new NATO, with new members, new missions, new functions, and new
types of responsibilities. The last opinion poll in Ukraine revealed that
more and more people see NATO as a peacekeeping and peacemaking
organization, a point that should be part of future discussions about
NATO's role in the 21st century.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">While actively developing
cooperation with NATO, Ukraine has also said that its basic national
interests require its full-scale participation in the all-European
security system that should guarantee every nation's stability and
security. This pan-European policy is the basis of Ukraine's attitude
towards NATO enlargement.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">Building up this new
European security environment is an extremely complex, complicated, and
sometimes controversial process. So it would be a simplification to say
that its development should derive only from NATO enlargement. On the
other hand, it should also be recognized that NATO's adaptation to the new
realities is proceeding at a relatively higher speed than that of other
European institutions, which in turn is influencing the general European
landscape. However, NATO constitutes only one of the many important parts
of the emerging security architecture--the military one--and the other
important parts--political, economic, and social--should not be neglected
if we really want to build up what is called in OSCE terms "a
comprehensive security for all Europe."</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">As a natural part of
Central and Eastern Europe, Ukraine is working hard to create a stable,
friendly external environment for implementing the crucial internal task
of transforming the country into an open, democratic society with a
market-oriented economy. To ensure this external environment, national
security is a priority of our foreign policy. For Ukraine this means
active involvement in building up a new security architecture on the
continent. At present, this architecture is being developed through NATO's
transformation and enlargement; the evolution of a security model for the
21st century within the OSCE framework; the future enlargement of the
European Union; new Western European Union functions; and the development
of regional and subregional processes. But only through complementary
interaction and a meaningful distribution of functions will these
processes secure the vitality and efficiency of the future European
architecture.</FONT></FONT> </P>
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