Ukraine's foreign policy
The principal provisions on the Ukrainian foreign
policy are legalized by both the Constitution of Ukraine and Laws
in force. The Verkhovna Rada has adopted a resolution, The Basic
Directions of Ukraine's Foreign Policy, which is a basic documents
outlining priorities for the Ukrainian state in its activities in
the international arena, and the law of Ukraine, On Ukraine’s
International Agreements.
Ukraine takes active part in all the processes taking
place in both Europe and the world. Ukraine’s major task is
to revive its European identity that means in the first place the
priority of its integration into European structures, in particular,
the European Union, in strengthening of European and Atlantic partnership,
and active participation in regional initiatives and mechanisms
of cooperation.
Ukraine’s full-scale participation in European
integration processes make it necessary for it to gain membership
in the World Trade Organization (WTO), which is also bound up with
gaining broader access to world markets and improving people’s
lives. Ukrainian commodity producers have much to offer to the world
market.
Ukraine’s Europe-oriented foreign policy does
not restrict development of bilateral collaboration. Of great importance
is the cooperation with Ukraine's strategic partners: the USA, Russian
Federation, Poland, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan. Ukraine will continue
to develop equal and mutually beneficial bilateral relations with
neighboring and other states, in particular, with those of the Middle
East, Central and South Asia, and the Asian-Pacific region on the
basis of partnership and openness.
Ukraine’s Integration
into European Structures
The resolution, Basic Directions of Ukraine's Foreign Policy, clearly
makes Ukraine's membership in the European communities a priority
goal of its foreign policy.
Today, the basis for bilateral relations between Ukraine
and the European Union is laid in the Agreement on Partnership and
Cooperation and the Joint EU Ukrainian Strategy, in which the EU
recognizes Ukraine's Europe oriented aspirations and welcomes its
European choice. The joint strategy provides a powerful impulse
of political support for Ukraine, favors faster internal transformations
within Ukraine and is an important tool which, alongside the partnership
and other agreements, strengthens the strategic partnership between
Ukraine and the EU.
In turn, Ukraine has adopted internal conceptual documents
aimed at safeguarding its European choice. Among them is the Strategy
of Ukraine's Integration into EU, which outlines the major priorities
for activities of the Ukrainian executive branch bodies until the
year 2007. The Program of Ukraine’s EU Integration is a practical
guide formulating specific assignments for the Ukrainian ministries
and departments so that the Strategy is implemented.
Economic cooperation is an important component in
the relations between Ukraine and EU. Nowadays, Ukraine has signed
a Cooperation Declaration with the countries, which are members
of the European Free Trade Association, opening to Ukraine access
to the European economic space.
Ukraine and its Significance
in Maintaining Stability and Security on the European Continent
Ukraine takes into account its European priority in constructing
its security policy. Ukraine is a participant in the process of
erecting a new architecture for the European security and actively
supports the position that the emergence of new division of Europe,
be it iron or paper, cannot be permitted.
Ukraine is taking active part in peacemaking efforts,
especially in settling stalemated conflicts. Being involved in regulating
peace in the Balkans (Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Kosovo),
functioning as an intermediary in settling the situation in Transnistria
(Moldova), or playing a positive role in settling the conflict in
Abkhazia (Georgia), Ukraine is demonstrating that it can be a real
contributor to security in Europe. In this context, our nation's
collaboration with UN, OSCE, Council of Europe, NATO, and within
GUUAM (Georgia-Ukraine-Uzbekistan-Azerbaijan-Moldova) is of great
importance.
Ukraine and the UN
Ukraine was among the UN’s founders and has contributed much
to giving birth to this world international organization. As a UN
member, Ukraine has elected a non-permanent member of the UN Security
Council three times (1948-1949, 1984-1985, 2000-2001) and a member
of the UN Economic and Social Council four times (most recently
in 1993-1995). Ukraine's representatives have been repeatedly elected
to executive positions in the major committees of the General Assembly
sessions, particularly, to chair the UN General Assembly at the
52nd session in 1997.
Today, Ukraine is active in reforming the UN. Our
state stands for making the Security Council's methods more transparent
and has advanced and supports an increased UN Security Council staff
by introducing more permanent and non-permanent members while focusing
on the adequate representation of the East European regional group
within the UN.
Confirming its peace-loving policy by definite actions,
Ukraine decided to send peacemaking contingents as part of the UN
missions to Lebanon and Congo.
Ukraine and OSCE
Ukraine is taking an active part in discussing and settling all
urgent issues of international security, and cooperation within
the OSCE region, in particular, in developing an architecture of
general European security and the strengthening stability, following
a need to enhance the role and effectiveness of the OSCE in safeguarding
security within the region in terms of political, military, human,
economic, ecological, and other spheres, and to enhance OSCE's preventive
and peacemaking potential.
Today's cooperation of Ukraine with the OSCE is an
example to be followed by other countries. It is this cooperation
in supporting the rights of national minorities in terms of OSCE's
efforts in Ukraine that became the organization’s first success
in implementing its mission’s goals and completely carrying
out its mandate.
Ukraine and the Council of Europe
Ukraine’s participation in the Council of Europe is evidence
of its steadfast adherence to its European choice and to the commonly
recognized principles of pluralistic democracy, the rule of law,
and commitment to basic human rights and liberties. As an organic
part of the European cultural originality, Ukraine promotes its
development on its side. Ukraine is taking active part in helping
the Council of Europe address social problems, in particular, in
support of the rights of national minorities, combating xenophobia
and racial intolerance, environmental protection, the maintenance
of biological ethics, as well as controlling AIDS and drug abuse.
Ukraine is a participant of a series of conventions
by the Council of Europe, in particular, the European Cultural Convention,
European Framework Convention on Cross-Border Cooperation among
territorial communities or authorities, European Convention on Information
about Foreign Legislation, six crime control conventions, and Framework
Convention on Protecting National Minorities.
Ukraine and NATO
Collaboration with NATO, which has already been underway for six
years, is based on Ukraine’s national interests and is determined
by the role the alliance plays in maintaining international peace,
stability, security, bettering the overall climate of confidence
in the European-Atlantic region, and establishing a new regional
security system in Europe. This cooperation was legalized by the
Charter of Special Partnership signed in 1997 and the Individual
Partnership Program within the Partnership for Peace Program.
Ukraine is closely involved in a great many actions
taken in combination with NATO member and partner countries to address
political, military, technical, scientific, economical, ecological,
and civil emergency issues.
Today Ukraine actively cooperates with NATO within
the 19+1 format to further develop mutual relations, improve mutual
understanding and compatibility, implement joint efforts and collaboration
for stronger peace and stability in Europe, increase trust, and
assert European democratic and legal standards to the benefit of
the new united European commonwealth.
Ukraine's Participation in
Regional Cooperation
An important component in Ukrainian foreign policy is arranging
regional forms of cooperation. The purposeful putting forward of
Ukrainian interests within the efforts of regional groupings makes
possible step-by-step movement toward European integration and helps
draw Ukraine into broad participation in the political and economical
processes which take place in East Central and Southeast Europe.
Ukrainian diplomacy ensures sound and effective participation
in regional instruments of cooperation, especially within the frameworks
of the Central-European Initiative, Black Sea Organization for Economic
Cooperation, and Council of Baltic Sea States. Participation in
these associations should promote the development of multilateral
interactions with the member states and positively influence the
advance of Ukraine along the road of market reforms.
A promising form of regional cooperation stems from
the consultative forum of five states -- Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan,
Azerbaijan, and Moldova (GUUAM) -- which was created as a result
of the active development of the multilateral cooperation among
these countries. The harmony of their positions in most issues of
international cooperation and a strategy for further development
makes possible a productive coordination of efforts intended to
attain stated goals by combined action.
Ukraine actively participates in implementing the
Pact on Stability in Southeast Europe, thus favoring the post-conflict
rehabilitation of the countries, which suffered from the Kosovo
crisis.
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