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<TITLE>Ukrainian Foreign Minister Borys Tarasyuk's Address to the 1998 NATO Workshop, Vienna, Austria </TITLE>
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<BODY LINK="0000ff" BGPROPERTIES="FIXED" BGCOLOR="ffffff"><BASEFONT SIZE="3">
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="6" FACE="Palatino">Ukraine’s
Contributions to European Capabilities in Response to SecurityChallenges
to the New NATO </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="4" FACE="Palatino">Foreign
Minister of Ukraine Borys Tarasyuk</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino"><B>OPENING
REMARKS</B> </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">This year’s
NATO Workshop was the fifth in which I participated. The meeting
continues to grow in scope and in interest, and I was happy to see once
again many friends from NATO and other leading institutions and companies
who share a thirst for addressing security policy issues and who are
trying to find a common vision for a united and secure continent. I
am also delighted to visit this marvelous city, a seat of European
culture, refinement, and hospitality, and a center of major European
developments. </FONT> </P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino"><B>UKRAINE’S
CONTRIBUTIONS TO EURO-ATLANTIC STABILITY</B> </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">I would like
to speak today about contributions Ukraine has made and will make in the
future to respond to the challenges being faced by NATO and the entire
Euro-Atlantic area. </FONT> </P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="4" FACE="Palatino">Geopolitical
Challenges</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">It is an
acknowledged fact that Ukraine plays a pivotal role in stability in both
its region and the continent as a whole. Few know how much effort
and energy has been spent in a short period to earn this reputation.
While internal political transformations, macroeconomic
stabilization, the resolution of many problems, and the establishment of
friendly relations with neighbors may seem a natural course for a Western
democracy, such occurrences were unprecedented in Ukraine. </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">To
demonstrate responsibility before the international community and to make
contributions to nuclear disarmament, Ukraine voluntarily renounced its
nuclear weapons, is reforming its armed forces, and is adapting national
legislation to European standards. We also welcome NATO enlargement
and are supporting and actively cooperating with our CEE neighbors who are
the first to join. We are also working and cooperating with all EAPC
partners, including Russia. </FONT> </P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino"><FONT SIZE="+1">Contributions
to Overall Regional Stability</FONT> </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">Through a
consistent and responsible foreign policy, Ukraine has earned much respect
among other newly independent states, making it an increasingly popular
regional power and politically credible and reliable. In a number of
important cases, Ukraine has proved to be an effective political mediator,
as it was in resolving an acute problem in Transdnistria. The
President of Ukraine is one of the guarantors of peace in this highly
volatile region, and we are currently aware of the serious situations in
Ahkhasia (Georgia) and Nagorny Karabakh (Azerbaidjan), whose stabilization
we are willing to contribute to. Together with EAPC partners we will
continue to pay close attention to these new risks in the EAPC area.
</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">Our active
role in the Black Sea Economic Cooperation organization recently resulted
in the creation of a new international organization under this name,
embracing 10 countries of the region. Since 1993 Ukraine has been
one of the strongest proponents of greater confidence and trust among the
countries of the region, and has put forward appropriate initiatives.
As a result, representatives of six Black Sea countries gathered on
June 23 in Kyiv for the first round of negotiations on confidence-building
measures and on reducing the naval military presence in their region.
</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">Our
initiatives to bring together the Black and Baltic Sea regions are further
illustrations of Ukraine’s role in consolidating Central and Eastern
Europe. On June 23 I joined my colleagues from Northern Europe in
Copenhagen at the Baltic Sea States Council meeting, where for the first
time a Ukrainian Minister participated as an observer. Also, as the
result of an initiative by President Kuchma, Ukraine will host a
conference of leaders of these two regions in the fall of 1999. Ukraine
also holds regular meetings on various levels in a 3+2 format with the
three Baltic States and Poland. </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">Another
regional initiative that Ukraine has undertaken is gradually taking shape,
and that is GUAM—an informal consulting forum among Georgia, Ukraine,
Azerbaidjan, and Moldova that centers on issues of mutual concern and
interest. This initiative encompasses such spheres of cooperation
and consultation as peacekeeping, the security of energy resources and
their transportation, and conventional armaments and armed forces control.
</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">A final part
of regional cooperation I must mention is the South-eastern European
dimension, where major problems currently exist in Bosnia and Kosovo.
This region organically complements the Black Sea area, and
concerted efforts in that part of the continent could strengthen peace
even into the Mediterranean area. </FONT> </P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino"><FONT SIZE="+1">The
Nuclear Dimension</FONT> </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">Another area
in which Ukraine has political weight and means is in averting a nuclear
threat. Recent nuclear tests in India and Pakistan shook the world.
I believe that all kinds of levers should be used both bilaterally
and collectively to apply the necessary pressure to make these two
countries abandon their nuclear programs and join existing control
regimes. The most important thing here is to step forward with a
common position. The recent meeting in London of the G8+6, which
included Ukraine, produced a decision to create a special task group to
continue to discuss this issue. </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">Ukraine is
closely involved in these deliberations, having condemned the tests both
separately and together with NATO during the NUC Ministerial at the end of
May, once again demonstrating our firm unity with NATO values. We
appreciate having been invited to the London meeting, since nuclear issues
are a focal point of our country. Nuclear weapons were imposed on us
in the past, but we later made the decision to renounce these dreadful
weapons. </FONT> </P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino"><FONT SIZE="+1">Peacekeeping
Contributions</FONT> </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">Crisis
management in the European “hot spots” consumes a great deal of
time and resources. NATO did an excellent job of stopping the war in
Bosnia, but much hard work to stabilize the situation and make peace
permanent still lies ahead. Ukraine fully supports the presence of
the NATO-led peacekeeping forces in that region as long as they are
needed. We are determined to continue our contributions of men and
hardware as well as actively participate in developing the
political-military framework of NATO-led operations. </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">Ukraine is
an active peace-keeping country. We are also recognized as a country
that promotes reconciliation by political means in a number of regions in
the EAPC area. Ukraine is gradually becoming more respected and
trusted by its neighbors. </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">An important
element of Ukraine’s peace-keeping policy and political-military
cooperation with the Alliance is its interest and readiness to participate
in CJTF. Beside providing important air-lift capabilities, Ukraine
can contribute by creating peacekeeping units with its neighbors, such as
the Ukrainian-Polish Battalion or similar initiatives now being considered
with other CEE and NIS countries, and offering such units for NATO- or
WEU-led peace support, crisis management, or humanitarian operations.
</FONT> </P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino"><FONT SIZE="+1">Border
Dispute Resolutions</FONT> </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">The
strongest asset Europe has that can prevent and resolve border disputes is
NATO enlargement. Making good-neighbor relations and an absence of
territorial claims preconditions of a country’s accession to the
Alliance has promoted the resolution of border disputes in both Central
and Eastern Europe. During 1997 Ukraine settled problems with all of
its neighbors. President Constantinescu identified 10 days in May
and June 1997 in which the world was greatly stabilized, and praised the
resolution of disputes between neighbors in Central and Eastern Europe,
including Ukraine. </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">Since the
overwhelming majority of CEE states are willing to join the Alliance of
democratic nations, I believe that NATO’s good-neighbor policy,
combined with intensive cooperation and confidence-building measures with
Russia, will bear new fruit wherever border issues are still present.
</FONT> </P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino"><FONT SIZE="+1">Ethnic
and Religious Reconciliation</FONT> </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">In 1993
there was fear in the West that Ukraine would fall apart because of the
ethnic tensions and the differences between its western and eastern parts.
But Ukraine today not only demonstrates internal unity, religious
reconciliation, and ethnic harmony, but also, together with Hungary, has
become an example for all of Europe in paying full respect to national
minorities’ rights. We have managed to reach political
stability in the Crimea, are offering non-discriminating ways for the
development of many national minorities on our territory, and are trying
hard to cope with a high level of migration. While these are
primarily internal matters, if we had not resolved them they would have
been a very great challenge to all of Europe. </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">I would also
like to mention at this time the Declaration of Reconciliation and Unity
signed by President Kuchma and President Kwasniewski. This
declaration has cleared the way for a Ukrainian-Polish strategic
partnership. </FONT> </P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino"><FONT SIZE="+1">Military
and Military-Technical Contributions</FONT> </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">Having
inherited over 60% of the former Soviet Union’s military-industrial
complex, Ukraine must cope with this enormous burden. However, it is
also able to share its accumulated, significant military research
knowledge and experience with NATO members and Partners. Ukraine’s
military and military-technical cooperation with NATO is now being
intensified, and I name here just a few of the areas in which Ukraine can
contribute to the efficiency of the Alliance as well as provide important
European capabilities for all: </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">1. The
Yavoriv training site in western Ukraine is ideal for PFP and other types
of exercises. A presentation document about this site recently
submitted to NATO points out its numerous merits and advantages, including
its ability to host exercises on all levels, up to large formations.
</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">2. A
promising venue of NATO-Ukraine cooperation regarding military materiel is
the production of Ukrainian tanks, aircraft, and ships, which could be put
at the disposal of any European peace-support operation. The biggest
prospect is the Ukrainian-Russian large aircraft, the AN-70, whose
characteristics make it very attractive for employment as a powerful
European capability and as a basis for the Future Large Aircraft (FLA).
Rounds of intensive consultation have been held with Russia,
Germany, France, and other NATO countries to realize this joint project,
which has no equivalent or alternative in Europe. </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">3. My friend
Jose Cutileiro has spoken about WEU’s need to borrow NATO assets for
European operations. Ukraine can offer a significant part of such
assets under the Framework Document that Ukraine and WEU signed in June
1997. This document provides a basis for using Ukraine’s
air-lift capabilities for European needs, in particular, peacekeeping,
crisis management, and humanitarian operations. Ukrainian-French
negotiations are underway now to bring this agreement to fruition. </FONT>
</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino"><FONT SIZE="+1">Civil
Emergencies</FONT> </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">Ukraine is
very capable of making contributions to the common effort in the sphere of
civil emergencies. The use of Ukrainian search and rescue units
outside Ukraine is a promising venue of cooperation with NATO Partners.
Our considerable military, technological, and human potential, and
our unique experience in handling disasters of technological origin, can
be employed anywhere in the EAPC area where it is needed. </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">Ukraine was
also one of the initiators and is now an active participant in the newly
created Euro-Atlantic Disaster Relief Coordination Center, which will act
as a “helping hand” at the U.N. Humanitarian Office coordinating
disaster relief and humanitarian operations in Europe. Our
participation in CMX’s two-phase exercises was also highly
appreciated. </FONT> </P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino"><B>CONCLUDING
REMARKS</B> </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">Ukraine has
contributed greatly to many common efforts within and outside the
NATO/EAPC area, efforts that are aimed at ensuring security for all.
We are also an indispensable and reliable partner in the process of
shaping a new security architecture on the continent and across the
Atlantic. Ukraine considers NATO to be the main pillar and driving
force behind global stability, regional cooperation, and crisis
management. And we have become an organic part and partner, with
other democratic nations, of the integration processes on the continent.
</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">I would like
to conclude by quoting a line from the Ukraine-NATO Joint Press Statement
made in early June in Luxembourg, which very clearly speaks of our
distinctive partnership: </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino"><I>“NATO
Ministers expressed their full appreciation for Ukraine’s strategic
course of integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures, and
reaffirmed their conviction that an independent, stable, and democratic
Ukraine is one of the key factors for ensuring stability in Central and
Eastern Europe, and the continent as a whole.”</I> </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT COLOR="000000" SIZE="3" FACE="Palatino">I would also
like to stress that our course of integration shall remain in place no
matter how much this policy’s opponents outside may wish to the
contrary. </FONT></P>
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<P ALIGN="LEFT">Copyright © 1998 Center for Strategic Decision
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