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UKRAINE'S AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA: THE NEXT PHASE OF DEVELOPMENT OF THE UKRAINE-EU RELATIONS MAY BE ONLY UKRAINE'S EU MEMBERSHIP
ArmInfo's Interview with Ivan Kukhta, Ukraine's Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia
by David Stepanyan
http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=09C61D10-3FB0-11E4-B6660EB7C0D21663
Friday, September 19, 07:50
Would you characterize Ukraine's European prospects following the
Sept 16 ratification of Ukraine's Association Agreement with the EU
by the Supreme Rada?
September 16th has become a significant day for Ukraine, because on
that day the Supreme Rada ratified the very important Ukraine-EU
Association Agreement. It is very important and symbolic that the
ratification took place synchronously with the European Parliament.
Thus, the phase of ratification of the Ukraine-EU Agreement is over.
The Ukrainian Parliament voted for ratification almost unanimously.
Only a few parliamentarians took no part in the voting. President of
Ukraine Petro Poroshenko once again stressed the great success which
legally fixes Ukraine's status on the path to the European integration.
The high-ranking officials of the EU have repeatedly stressed that
participation in Eastern Partnership (with AA/DCFTA being part of it)
does not lead to EU membership. Does your remark on the prospects
of Ukraine's EU membership mean that the latest developments around
Ukraine have created special conditions for the country?
I do not think so. I only say that the ratification of the Association
Agreement is one of the phases of the path of Ukraine's EU membership.
Naturally, it is early to say when it will become possible.
Nevertheless, on September 16 it was once again emphasized that the
ratification of the Agreement is nothing but a phase of Ukraine's
prospect to join the European Union.
In other words, you do not think that the situation around and in
Ukraine can speed up the given process, especially given that Ukraine
has said the last "good-bye" to the Soviet Union by ratifying the
Association Agreement, as President Poroshenko said...
The fact that the Supreme Rada and the European Parliament ratified
the Association Agreement almost simultaneously demonstrates the
commitment of Ukraine and the EU to promotion of further cooperation
under the specified agreement.
On September 16, the Supreme Rada signed two more important
documents...
Indeed, two very important documents were adopted on September 16
by the Supreme Rada. They concern the fulfillment of the President's
peaceful plan on settlement of the situation in Donetsk and Luhansk
Oblasts. The first document is on "Special procedure of local
self-government in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts",
and the second one is on "Prevention of criminal prosecution,
involvement in criminal, administrative prosecution and punishment of
the individuals, who took part in the events in Donetsk and Luhansk
Oblasts". These documents were adopted within the frames of the
arrangements reached by the Contact Group in Minsk on September 5.
Both documents aim first of all to stabilize the situation and give
more powers to the local self-government structures in Luhansk and
Donetsk Oblasts. The documents also provide an opportunity to use
Russian as a language of communication, as well as other languages in
these oblasts. In addition, the documents stipulate local elections
in the specified oblasts.
When introducing these bills to the Parliament, the President of
Ukraine reiterated that they do not run counter to the territorial
integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Therefore, these
bills are first of all aimed at maintaining the specified three
provisions. This is a compelling stand.
What role does Moscow play in these processes, e.g. in the Minsk
agreement?
Russia's representative, Ambassador to Ukraine Mikhail Zurabov was
present at the Sept 5 signing of the Minsk agreement on settlement
of the situation in Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts. Therefore, it is
natural that Ukraine's leadership puts a particular focus on the fact
that it is impossible to settle the situation in two of our oblasts
without Russia's participation.
In late August the National Television and Radio Broadcasting Council
of Ukraine enlarged the list of Russian journalists, who are denied
entry to Ukraine, to 49. The Ukrainian Interior Ministry is also going
to ban the entry for nearly 500 Russian statesmen, who approved the
annexation of Crimea. How efficient are such sanctions against Russia?
The world community is actively discussing the current developments
in Donetsk and Luhansk. The Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly
asked the UN, NATO, the EU and the US to assist them in solving this
problem. And the sanctions against Russia are an element of their
assistance. I think Ukraine and the countries that have applied the
sanctions expect certain results from them.
A parade of sovereignties is being observed in Europe now: Scotland,
Catalonia, Flanders. In the post-Soviet space we have the examples
of Karabakh, Transnistria, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia. Is Crimea a
part of this trend or is it a particular case?
Crimea is Ukraine's territory, so, any referendum held there is
illegal. De jure Ukraine does not recognize Crimea as part of Russia.
Crimea is part of Ukraine. On Mar 27 2014 the UN General Assembly
adopted a resolution confirming Ukraine's territorial integrity
and refusing to recognize the change in the status of Crimea and
Sevastopol.
Won't the AA/DCFTA signed and ratified by Ukraine have a negative
effect on the trade and economic relations between Ukraine and the
CIS countries, for instance, Armenia?
The trilateral meeting of the Ukraine-Russia-European Union Commission
took place on September 12. The Commission issued a statement saying
that the implementation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area
(DCFTA) component of the EU-Ukraine agreement is put off for a year
till 31 Dec 2015. This demonstrates that the EU, Ukraine and Russia
find mutually acceptable solutions to prevent DCFTA from affecting
Ukraine's cooperation with Russia and other CIS countries. Though
Armenia is going to join the Eurasian Union and Ukraine has signed
an Association Agreement with the European Union, we are extremely
interested in further development of the Armenian-Ukrainian relations
at the same level. My meetings in Armenia, particularly, the meetings
with the Armenian Minister of Economy have reconfirmed the confidence
that despite the agreements with different economic structures,
Ukraine and Armenia remain interested in development of economic
relations. In 2013 the Armenian-Ukrainian commodity turnover totaled
about $223 mln, and our countries are certainly interested in expansion
of economic partnership.
Have you got any data for the first half of 2014?
In the first half of 2014 the commodity turnover amounted to $95.6
mln. It is less than in the same period of 2013. In the first
half of 2014, Ukraine's exports to Armenia totaled $75 million. In
late 2014 the Inter-Parliamentary Commission is planning to hold a
session in Yerevan to settle the economic problems that may arise
during Armenia's accession to the Eurasian Economic Union. I think
Armenia's EAEU membership and Ukraine's Association Agreement with
the EU will cause no discrepancies between our countries. Kyiv
perfectly understands the role of the Armenian community in Ukraine
(350-400 thsd citizens) and we realize that the Armenian community
has its own stand on a number of issues. We are very grateful to the
Armenian community for its stand on the latest developments in our
country. The fact that one of Ukraine's citizens killed in Maidan was
Armenian once again demonstrates the Armenian community's active role
in the development of the state. The state, in turn, will do its best
to give the Armenian community an opportunity to satisfy its needs
in culture, history, architecture, etc.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
ArmInfo's Interview with Ivan Kukhta, Ukraine's Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia
by David Stepanyan
http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=09C61D10-3FB0-11E4-B6660EB7C0D21663
Friday, September 19, 07:50
Would you characterize Ukraine's European prospects following the
Sept 16 ratification of Ukraine's Association Agreement with the EU
by the Supreme Rada?
September 16th has become a significant day for Ukraine, because on
that day the Supreme Rada ratified the very important Ukraine-EU
Association Agreement. It is very important and symbolic that the
ratification took place synchronously with the European Parliament.
Thus, the phase of ratification of the Ukraine-EU Agreement is over.
The Ukrainian Parliament voted for ratification almost unanimously.
Only a few parliamentarians took no part in the voting. President of
Ukraine Petro Poroshenko once again stressed the great success which
legally fixes Ukraine's status on the path to the European integration.
The high-ranking officials of the EU have repeatedly stressed that
participation in Eastern Partnership (with AA/DCFTA being part of it)
does not lead to EU membership. Does your remark on the prospects
of Ukraine's EU membership mean that the latest developments around
Ukraine have created special conditions for the country?
I do not think so. I only say that the ratification of the Association
Agreement is one of the phases of the path of Ukraine's EU membership.
Naturally, it is early to say when it will become possible.
Nevertheless, on September 16 it was once again emphasized that the
ratification of the Agreement is nothing but a phase of Ukraine's
prospect to join the European Union.
In other words, you do not think that the situation around and in
Ukraine can speed up the given process, especially given that Ukraine
has said the last "good-bye" to the Soviet Union by ratifying the
Association Agreement, as President Poroshenko said...
The fact that the Supreme Rada and the European Parliament ratified
the Association Agreement almost simultaneously demonstrates the
commitment of Ukraine and the EU to promotion of further cooperation
under the specified agreement.
On September 16, the Supreme Rada signed two more important
documents...
Indeed, two very important documents were adopted on September 16
by the Supreme Rada. They concern the fulfillment of the President's
peaceful plan on settlement of the situation in Donetsk and Luhansk
Oblasts. The first document is on "Special procedure of local
self-government in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts",
and the second one is on "Prevention of criminal prosecution,
involvement in criminal, administrative prosecution and punishment of
the individuals, who took part in the events in Donetsk and Luhansk
Oblasts". These documents were adopted within the frames of the
arrangements reached by the Contact Group in Minsk on September 5.
Both documents aim first of all to stabilize the situation and give
more powers to the local self-government structures in Luhansk and
Donetsk Oblasts. The documents also provide an opportunity to use
Russian as a language of communication, as well as other languages in
these oblasts. In addition, the documents stipulate local elections
in the specified oblasts.
When introducing these bills to the Parliament, the President of
Ukraine reiterated that they do not run counter to the territorial
integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Therefore, these
bills are first of all aimed at maintaining the specified three
provisions. This is a compelling stand.
What role does Moscow play in these processes, e.g. in the Minsk
agreement?
Russia's representative, Ambassador to Ukraine Mikhail Zurabov was
present at the Sept 5 signing of the Minsk agreement on settlement
of the situation in Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts. Therefore, it is
natural that Ukraine's leadership puts a particular focus on the fact
that it is impossible to settle the situation in two of our oblasts
without Russia's participation.
In late August the National Television and Radio Broadcasting Council
of Ukraine enlarged the list of Russian journalists, who are denied
entry to Ukraine, to 49. The Ukrainian Interior Ministry is also going
to ban the entry for nearly 500 Russian statesmen, who approved the
annexation of Crimea. How efficient are such sanctions against Russia?
The world community is actively discussing the current developments
in Donetsk and Luhansk. The Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly
asked the UN, NATO, the EU and the US to assist them in solving this
problem. And the sanctions against Russia are an element of their
assistance. I think Ukraine and the countries that have applied the
sanctions expect certain results from them.
A parade of sovereignties is being observed in Europe now: Scotland,
Catalonia, Flanders. In the post-Soviet space we have the examples
of Karabakh, Transnistria, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia. Is Crimea a
part of this trend or is it a particular case?
Crimea is Ukraine's territory, so, any referendum held there is
illegal. De jure Ukraine does not recognize Crimea as part of Russia.
Crimea is part of Ukraine. On Mar 27 2014 the UN General Assembly
adopted a resolution confirming Ukraine's territorial integrity
and refusing to recognize the change in the status of Crimea and
Sevastopol.
Won't the AA/DCFTA signed and ratified by Ukraine have a negative
effect on the trade and economic relations between Ukraine and the
CIS countries, for instance, Armenia?
The trilateral meeting of the Ukraine-Russia-European Union Commission
took place on September 12. The Commission issued a statement saying
that the implementation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area
(DCFTA) component of the EU-Ukraine agreement is put off for a year
till 31 Dec 2015. This demonstrates that the EU, Ukraine and Russia
find mutually acceptable solutions to prevent DCFTA from affecting
Ukraine's cooperation with Russia and other CIS countries. Though
Armenia is going to join the Eurasian Union and Ukraine has signed
an Association Agreement with the European Union, we are extremely
interested in further development of the Armenian-Ukrainian relations
at the same level. My meetings in Armenia, particularly, the meetings
with the Armenian Minister of Economy have reconfirmed the confidence
that despite the agreements with different economic structures,
Ukraine and Armenia remain interested in development of economic
relations. In 2013 the Armenian-Ukrainian commodity turnover totaled
about $223 mln, and our countries are certainly interested in expansion
of economic partnership.
Have you got any data for the first half of 2014?
In the first half of 2014 the commodity turnover amounted to $95.6
mln. It is less than in the same period of 2013. In the first
half of 2014, Ukraine's exports to Armenia totaled $75 million. In
late 2014 the Inter-Parliamentary Commission is planning to hold a
session in Yerevan to settle the economic problems that may arise
during Armenia's accession to the Eurasian Economic Union. I think
Armenia's EAEU membership and Ukraine's Association Agreement with
the EU will cause no discrepancies between our countries. Kyiv
perfectly understands the role of the Armenian community in Ukraine
(350-400 thsd citizens) and we realize that the Armenian community
has its own stand on a number of issues. We are very grateful to the
Armenian community for its stand on the latest developments in our
country. The fact that one of Ukraine's citizens killed in Maidan was
Armenian once again demonstrates the Armenian community's active role
in the development of the state. The state, in turn, will do its best
to give the Armenian community an opportunity to satisfy its needs
in culture, history, architecture, etc.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress