Chernomyrdin Is Optimistic
“There is no question of treachery!” Viktor Chernomyrdin said astonishingly, answering on January 18 journalists’ questions about the transport of gas to Europe, bypassing Ukraine. “Can Ukraine reproach Russia for withholding any amount of gas?” the Russian ambassador asked in turn. As to the construction of gas pipelines, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation in Ukraine pointed out that Russia would build them “where it is more economical and expedient.”
Last Friday, addressing a regular session of the All-Ukrainian Media Association Press Club, Mr. Chernomyrdin summed up the past year. He did this, naturally, within the context of Russian-Ukrainian relations. Starting with an optimistic introduction (“There have never been and, I hope, will never be any international problems in our relations”) and noting that, unfortunately, we have failed to seize all the available opportunities in the past ten years to boost mutually-advantageous cooperation between the two countries, Mr. Chernomyrdin nevertheless painted quite a rosy picture of Russo-Ukrainian relations.
In the Russian ambassador’s opinion, it is the work of the presidents that imparts special dynamism to the bilateral contacts. Mr. Chernomyrdin pointed out the fact that it is for the first time in history that the heads of our states met each other so often — eight times in a year — adding that all meetings of chief executives have yielded positive results. What tops the bill, according to the Russian ambassador, is the economic forum in Kharkiv attended by the presidents. This provided ample proof of the seriousness of relations between Ukraine and Russia. Drawing the line under the last year, Mr. Chernomyrdin noted that such radical changes as intensifying parliamentary contacts, unification and, hence, enhanced reliability of the two energy systems, settlement of the natural gas debt problem, and the first steps of the Russo-Ukrainian intergovernmental commission. The Russian ambassador considers the latter as an instrument which can help solve many problems “at one stroke.” Moreover, Mr. Chernomyrdin mentioned a marked improvement in the cooperation between the Russian Black Sea Fleet and the Ukrainian Navy, as well as the virtual end of the work of two commissions which coordinated delineation of the state border “all along its land segment.”
The ambassador also expressed his opinion about the general direction of the two states’ foreign policy. According to Mr. Chernomyrdin, we share the idea of the necessity to increase the central role of “such instruments as UN and OSCE” in ensuring international security and solving international conflicts. Both Russia and Ukraine picture their future in close cooperation with a united Europe.
Yet, Mr. Chernomyrdin, in his additional capacity of the Russian President’s special representative in charge of trade and economic relations with Ukraine, laid special emphasis on Russian-Ukrainian economic relations. In the ambassador’s words, the trade turnover between the two states reached $12 billion last year. But, taking into account our economic capabilities, Mr. Chernomyrdin assesses the potential bilateral trade turnover at $50 billion.
The year 2002 has got off to a flying start, the Russian ambassador said, recalling that this year is the Year of Ukraine in Russia and noting that such actions are beneficial “for our people, for our states.” In addition, Mr. Chernomyrdin invited the Ukrainian President to Siberia. The ambassador also suggested that Leonid Kuchma visit within the framework of the Year of Ukraine in Russia the Yamal-Nenets and Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Territories which have not only oil and gas but also a sizable Ukrainian diaspora.
