08.07.2003 20:01
CHOICE FOR ACCESSION TO NATO MUST BE WELL-GROUNDED - DURAY

execution of Ukraine-NATO Target Plan for 2003 and to talk on the problems that crop up underway in order to understand how the general NATO level can be reached. This is better than thinking over specific dates for accession to NATO, he told Defense Express. NATO's Information and Documentation Center has been working in Ukraine for over a year, having taken a direct part in preparation of Ukraine-NATO Action Plan and Ukraine-NATO Target Plan for 2003 within Ukraine-NATO Action Plan.

- Over half a year has passed since Ukraine started implementing Ukraine-NATO Action Plan and Target Plan for 2003. How do you appraise the actions of the Ukrainian government in execution of these plans?

- It seems to us. There is progress in implementation of these documents. And we can feel this at all the levels: not only at the governmental, but also at social levels. This can be seen from the side of Verkhovna Rada as well. All this means that various sectors of the Ukrainian society pay great interest to this issue. It seems to me the signing of the Action Plan created some sort of a critical mass to move forward. In my opinion, after six months it is still early to discuss in details the execution of this Plan. Official consideration will be held in the end of the year. Nevertheless, I believe, the first six-seven months of the Plan execution were very active. So active that it was hard for both Ukrainian and NATO representatives.

- Were all the joint working groups set up as scheduled by the Target Plan?

- Indeed, implementation of the Target Plan provides for sessions, meetings of Ukraine-NATO joint ad hoc groups. Just recently the Joint ad hoc group for science and environmental protection has gathered. In May Brussels hosted a meeting of the joint working group for economic safety. The Joint working group for defense reform is to meet at the top-level in October. Ukraine will soon be visited by experts in the framework of preparation of the meeting of the Joint working group for arms.

- Is the lack of specific terms and executors a problem for implementation of the Target Plan?

- Possibly there are specific executors. But the document we agreed to publish did not mention such executors because it is likely they were not appointed as of the time of publication. But, on the other hand, it is quite obvious the measures in the defense field will be taken by the Defense Ministry. In the field of information these are made by the State Committee for TV and Radio Broadcast. One should specially mark the Center for Euro-Atlantic Integration chaired by Volodymyr Horbulin. This Center controls implementation of the Target Plan.

- Do you think this Center needs more authority to effectively meet its duties under the plan?

- It is not me who should be asked since Ukraine accounts for 80% of the Target Plan implementation. This means the issue has to be considered within Ukraine. We are striving to meet our obligations.

- Several Ukrainian officials admitted during the recent meeting of ministers for defense and foreign affairs of NATO member-countries and their partners the questions were raised regarding the quality of execution of the Target Plan by Ukraine. Would you, please, speak of NATO's remarks?

- We believe the quality is important in running the plan, especially concerning the Euro-Atlantic integration. It is not always easy to reach quality. Because the time for the plan execution is short. It will later take several months to learn the lessons after the first plan and to draft the second plan (for 2004). It is necessary to take into account the experience of other countries. This should also be taken into account that this document is not obligatory. The plan was signed on proposition of Ukraine. The plan concerning the accession to NATO (Membership Action Plan) is discussed by NATO's expert groups and is an obligatory document.

Speaking of the quality, meetings in Brussels, meetings of joint ad hoc groups should be used, both sides' opinions to be heard. I think we are working this way. Learning and trying. The main point is not to tick corresponding paragraphs done, done.. It would be better to know how this was done and to discuss what mistake were made and why. These mistakes should be taken into account to implement other scheduled tasks.

- How do you think the appointment of National Security and Defense Council Secretary Yevhen Marchuk to the post of Defense Minister will help speed up Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration?

- We never officially comment on any minister's appointment in any office. I think this an internal decision of Ukraine.

We have long partnership with Mister Marchuk and know him well, he knows us. I think both sides are well aware of each other, this always helps.

- When, in your opinion, Ukraine may approach the moment of transfer from the Action Plan to NATO's Membership Action Plan?

- I think much depends on the quality here. Much depends on the level of task execution Ukraine is to show NATO member-countries. I will repeat what all the representatives of NATO member-countries and NATO's Secretary General. By now Ukraine has not filed an official application for accession to NATO. I think it is necessary to focus on implementation of the adopted document and to talk on the problems that crop up underway in order to understand how the general NATO level can be reached. This is better than thinking over specific dates.

- U.S. Ambassador Carlos Pascual has recently said the upcoming half a year will be very important for Ukraine. Much will depend on the election for President in the country, possibly in 2006. Ukraine may file an application for accession to NATO and to enter the Alliance in 2008, Pascual believes. Do you share such an opinion?

- As a representative of NATO structures working through a consensus, I cannot comment on the statements made by the representative of the Alliance member-country. Every country has the right for its own ideas. But I can explain the information all NATO members agree to. I only want to note what the Secretary General underlined during the Washington meetings in May Washington meetings and this was stressed in the communiquй issued after the foreign ministers' meeting in Madrid and the defense ministers' meeting in Brussels. The point is that NATO supports Ukraine's intention to enter Euro-Atlantic structures and believes Ukraine is a very important partner that we will further work with and support its Euro-Atlantic integration aspirations.

The interview is to be continued in the next issue of Hot Topic.

Mykola Syruk, Defense Express