Herbst Has His Doubts

Ukraine’s joining the single economic space with Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan does not fully serve this country’s interests, US Ambassador John Herbst declared at his first news conference in Kyiv.

The diplomat pointed out a number of aspects that should be taken into account by the Ukrainian leadership when taking part in that new integration entity, including whether the SES will help or prevent Ukraine’s membership in various international organizations. At the same time, Mr. Herbst noted that the Ukrainian government should make its own decision on the matter, stressing that, of course, it is an issue the Ukrainian government must decide for itself and decide on what steps should be taken to join the SES. In his opinion, the leaders of this country ought to analyze precisely how such steps will agree with Ukraine’s aspiration to integrate into the Euro-Atlantic community; it would serve the Ukrainian interest not to take any steps that would complicate this integration. The US Ambassador further emphasized that his government completely supported Ukraine’s desire to become a member of the world economic community. The United States has been closely cooperating with the Ukrainian government to promote Ukraine’s WTO membership.

Ambassador Herbst also thanked Ukraine for dispatching its peacekeeping contingent to Iraq. When asked by journalists, he said that Washington welcomed Ukrainian participation in the postwar development in that country, specifically referring to Ukrainian companies willing to help restore the Iraqi infrastructure on a contractual basis.

The US Ambassador stated that no American troops would be deployed in Ukraine. A journalist asked whether Mr. Herbst would use his experience as former Ambassador to Uzbekistan in arranging for US military bases to be introduced in Ukraine. Mr. Herbst had to remind the media people of recent history, particularly that US military deployment in Central Asia was necessary because of the war against Taliban and al-Qaeda terrorism, adding that he was surprised to hear that, just because US troops had been deployed in Uzbekistan with him as Ambassador, the same would happen in Ukraine.

Mr. Herbst paid special attention to the freedom of expression in Ukraine, noting that the Gongadze case still left a number of questions unanswered, and that the United States was concerned about encroachments on the freedom of the press in this country, where many influential people are trying to act using what he described as Soviet methods.