Genscher’s Optimistic Kyiv Rhapsody

He can by right be called a legend of postwar European political life. Hans-Dietrich Genscher, the former Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister of the FRG (under Federal Chancellor Helmut Kohl) and now the President of the German Society of Foreign Policy, the man who made well-nigh the greatest contribution to the unification of the two German states and who personified the policy of the German-French rapprochement for a united Europe, has added to his decorations the Yaroslav the Wise Order Second Class.

German media outlets have always noted Genscher for skill in giving news conferences. Now he still has a few things to say. Being almost 75, he does not only watch closely international developments, but also knows Ukrainian realities quite well. Of all the recent visitors from the West, he appears to be the only one who, talking to reporters and university students after his meetings with Leonid Kuchma and Foreign Minister Anatoly Zlenko, tried to avoid the word elections: he obviously understood that there would be many more occasions to use it; instead he focused on other things. He said in particular that Chancellor Schroeder’s message about Ukraine’s potential chance for associate membership in the European Union was extremely clear, and now it depends on Ukraine whether it will sign an association agreement with the EU in 2004, the intention announced by President Kuchma. He said that there are no anti-American sentiments or criticism in Europe, but that the United States should lend an ear to the European voice. He said that apart from what US officials say about the Ukrainian situation, one should also consider concrete steps – Genscher is particularly convinced that the European Union’s statements and moves in this connection have been more than adequate. Apparently, Genscher knows what he is talking about if he says it is not the USA but the European Union that can offer Ukraine associate membership (of course, certain criteria have to be met), and this, by the way, is not offered Russia. According to him, not everything is lost in the cooperation in transport aviation projects. Genscher is also convinced that some EU countries also should develop an adequate view of Ukraine. Genscher looks optimistically on what concerns EU-Ukraine relations, although he does not conceal the difficulties. He says, in particular, that the eastern lands of Germany have still not completely built a market economy. He rejects the “theory of concentric circles” in building a new Europe that was so popular two years ago, he just has confidence, including in Ukraine. There is no doubt that his word still weighs much. It is worthwhile to believe in ourselves as well.