Carlos Pascual: Ukraine Needs Increasingly Less Help

The United States is reducing financial aid to Ukraine, among other reasons, because this country has reached a degree of financial independence, says US Ambassador Carlos Pascual. Asked by journalists about the scheduled reduction in US aid to former Soviet republics, he stressed that many of these countries, particularly Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan have demonstrated that they can access international capital markets and find money themselves. They have a number of economic priorities they can likewise finance. Pascual reminded reporters that US aid to Ukraine in 2002 amounted to $155 million. This year’s total will fall to about $140 million, and to approximately $94 million in 2004.

The diplomat also noted that the Kolchuga issue remains open, that actually nothing has changed there. The United States has received no additional information from Ukrainian authorities that would help arrive at a conclusion. It is possible, he added, that both countries will never reach an agreement on the issue, because each has its own view of it.

When asked about the 2004 presidential elections, Pascual said the United States would wish the campaign to be held with all parties being provided equal conditions. His country has no preferences or favorites among the contestants. Will there be any top-level meetings in the nearest future? No such plans have been made so far, although Washington does not rule out the possibility of meetings with representatives of the presidential administration. According to Interfax Ukraine, the US intends to help Ukraine have the FATF sanctions lifted at the coming session of the Task Force, if parliament passes the required bills.