Multicolored France

Two hundred journalists from a number of countries, including a correspondent from The Day, recently spent time in Paris. The media people did not see an ideal country but the real France. We met with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France, which organized our visit, as well as with experts from the broadest range of fields, politicians from the ruling party and the opposition, statesmen, trade union figures, experts, analysts, political scientists, journalists, cultural figures, and many others. The following were the main topics of discussion:

— The European Union, its mission and functioning; the impact of European construction on EU member countries;

— Reforms in the social protection system, pension reform; which model Ukraine will adopt;

— The Joint Agrarian Policy (JAP);

— France-Ukraine cultural exchange programs;

— Immigration

ON THE THRESHOLD OF CHANGE

France is facing big reforms. Nicolas Sarkozy’s presidential campaign slogan was “Together, everything becomes possible.” After winning the campaign with 53 percent of the vote, the new president offered an ambitious program, insisting that reforms, which are very painful for the population, are the only way to solve pressing problems. For the first time in 30 years the sixth president of the Fifth Republic broke the stereotype according to which the left wing is replaced by the right wing after every election.

Today, the propresidential party, Union pour un Mouvement Populaire (UMP), has 343 seats in the Lower House. It is a powerful majority capable of pursuing its course of reform. Prime Minister Francois Fillon, who is known as the father of the pension reform, heads the government. Women make up one-half of the cabinet members, holding seven out of fourteen ministerial posts, including the ministries of justice, internal affairs, and economy. In France it is said that although the current Socialist opposition leader Marie-Segolene Royal failed to win the presidential race, she played a very important role in making the role of women role considerably more important.

Municipal elections took place last week, and according to the results of the first round, leftists are leading by a small margin. Here, too, democracy a la France is manifest, with Sarkozy receiving carte blanche yesterday and his socialist opponents getting it the next day.

The priorities of the French cabinet are:

— Employment: labor market and taxation system reforms;

— Suburbs: a social housing program;

— Higher education: enhancing universities’ independence;

— Constitutional reform: enhancing parliament’s role;

— Trade unions: replacing procedures of negotiations with employers;

— Security: reform of the law enforcement sphere;

— Immigration: French language exams for foreigners;

— Foreign policy: enhancing France’s role in the world, UN reform, etc.

France’s agricultural policy allows small farms to survive in conditions of increasing competition. (Statistically every fourth Frenchman lives in the countryside, and 58 percent of France’s territory consists of farmland.) The French are debating the length of the work week: 35 or 39 hours for the urban population.

The French foreign policy course is being pursued by Bernard Kouchner. He is a former member of the Socialist Party, known internationally as a co-founder of the humanitarian organization Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors without Borders). He has led humanitarian projects on various continents for 40 years and served as UN special representative to Kosovo, and several times held ministerial posts. Our team of journalists from The Day attended his first press conference as foreign minister. After delivering his speech, Kouchner held a blitz press conference with a number of media people. A variety of painful issues were raised, including prospects for Kosovo, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the problems faced by Lebanon and Iraq, and the way France and Germany see Europe’s future.

I managed to ask my question toward the end of the press conference: “Will France support Ukraine’s accession to NATO’s Membership Action Plan?” Kouchner paused dramatically and admitted that it is hard for him to give a straight answer to my straight question. This issue will be discussed at the Bucharest summit. Kouchner assured us that France is by no means opposed to Ukraine but that there are other countries — Albania, Macedonia, and Georgia — waiting for their turn to be admitted. He added, “Ukrainians, don’t lose hope!” That was his final statement during the press conference, but he promised that from now on he will be communicating with the media twice a week.

France is making detailed preparations for its six-month chairmanship of the EU, which starts on April 1. During our numerous meetings in Paris and Brussels we discussed innovative initiatives and priorities. Among the EU’s political priorities is a clause relating to Ukraine: enhancing the independence of its judicial system and the struggle against corruption. For us it is very important for the mechanism of simplified visa procedures to start working. Ukraine and the EU signed an agreement to this effect in 1995. If this agreement starts working, the number of documents to be signed for trips abroad by tourists, students, businessmen, and private citizens will shrink considerably. This in turn will allow for the expansion of trade, political, scientific, and other exchanges.

Ecology is a priority topic. During our stay in Paris, we were fortunate to talk with a very popular individual by the name of Nicolas Hulot, the founder and president of the Foundation Nicolas Hulot. He is a renowned ecologist, writer, and former newspaperman, who has spent more than 18 years protecting the environment in France and abroad. Today one million people support his “Ecological Pact.” One of the mandatory subjects in the French public school curriculum deals with ecological problems. During the last presidential campaign Hulot nominated himself — not to become head of state but to attract the attention of the public and all candidates to environmental problems. He succeeded in uniting opponents on this issue. His ecological pact was signed and Hulot pulled out of the race. He believes that environmental protection and ecology are issues that concern all people, regardless of nationality. Progress cannot be stopped, but our planet can be protected through a combined effort.

Manmade disasters, like Chornobyl, must also unite Ukrainians and make us ponder what we will leave to posterity.

ARE WE EXPECTED AT THE EU?

France will continue building the large European home. All issues pertaining to energy conservation, protection of the environment, climate, European security and defense policies, immigration, the struggle against poverty, and the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon (also known as the Reform Treaty) will be priority points on the agenda.

We, Ukrainian journalists, wanted to know whether the dialog between France and Ukraine will become more active. There are enduring stereotypes whereby France has closer ties with Russia, and Germany with Ukraine. However, the French president’s statements to the effect that he intends to expand the international sector inspire hopes for Ukraine becoming one of the points on the French foreign policy agenda. Nicolas Sarkozy and Viktor Yushchenko have already established personal contact and outlined cooperation guidelines, but strategy and specific moves remain to be determined in the nearest future.

I asked Piotr Smolar, the influential Le Monde journalist who specializes in international relations, whether the European Union expects Ukraine to become a member and how long it will take to achieve this.

“That’s hard to say,” Smolar replied. “This requires certain conditions on both sides, the EU and Ukraine. Above all, it takes resolve on the part of not only certain Ukrainian politicians but most of the population of your country. I think that if Yulia Tymoshenko wins the next presidential campaign, she will want Ukraine to become a member of the EU. On the other hand, the European Union is in a state of profound crisis, and its subsequent moves in regard to other countries are anyone’s guess. I still can’t figure out its decision on Turkey, and Ukraine’s membership can be resolved only later. Needless to say, Ukraine’s EU membership will take some time; this problem cannot be solved in a matter of months. It will take years. Ukraine must determine its internal position, just as the EU has to solve its current problems. Only then will it be possible to get down to the issue of Ukraine’s membership. It is no secret that this will entail a number of problems. Your Russian neighbor is reacting painfully to Ukraine’s EU membership aspirations. You have to prepare and find ways of taking the edge off especially acute aspects.”

Do you think that France is becoming more interested in Ukraine, or are we trailing in Russia’s wake?

Smolar: Unfortunately, Ukraine remains a terra incognita for most Frenchmen, whereas all post-Soviet countries are visualized through the prism of Russia. It should be noted that your leaders, Yushchenko and Tymoshenko, are already known in France, whereas few people know about the opposition and the Party of Regions leader Yanukovych. Since Yushchenko’s poisoning, much has been written and talked about in the French media. I would say that we know Yushchenko as a man with a different face. People here like Tymoshenko as a very pretty lady. After the Orange Revolution our public interest in Ukraine has increased. France was all out for you at the time. We are inherently romantic, so democratic changes are close to us in spirit, although a romantic period is always followed by a hangover, even disillusionment at times.

You have visited Ukraine, witnessed our realities, and written a series of articles. What brings our countries closer together or make them drift further apart?

Smolar: I think there are two Ukraines. The western part is very close to Poland and the Czech Republic with its mentality, moral guidelines, and religion. The east is closely connected to Russia, in both the economic and linguistic aspects, as well as their joint historical destinies. Ukraine is a young state. It still has to work out a nationwide consolidating idea. Strange as it may seem, you should establish good, balanced, and neighborly relations with Russia in order to bring France and Ukraine closer together. Nor can one disregard the long-lasting friendly relations between France and Russia. This is a factor that remains and must be reckoned with. If you can improve Ukrainian- Russian relations, this will serve to improve relations between Ukraine and France, and the European Union. After all, the measures that are being adopted are not aimed against Russia or for Ukraine’s benefit. For the time being, the Russians are opposed to your desire to become a member of the EU, but no one can predict the course events will take in the next five years, for example.

I have fond memories of my business trip to Ukraine. I loved Kyiv and Odesa. Both are nice cities with friendly people, with a calmer and more balanced vital rhythm compared to Moscow. It was my first visit to Odesa and I fell in love with this city. I wrote several features based on fresh impressions. I hope they served to lift the curtain, even if only by a few inches, which is still hanging between our countries.

WHICH WAY DO WE WANT TO GO?

Despite its friendly attitude, the French side made it clear that Ukraine’s path to Europe will be anything but simple. Dr. Thomas Gomart of the Institut francais des relations internationales and Prof. Anne de Tinguy, a political scientist, writer, and lecturer at the Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales (INALCO), spoke on this subject. Roaming the Internet, they can keep a sensitive finger on the world’s pulse. They thoroughly analyze media coverage and statements made by Ukrainian politicians, trying to figure out the Verkhovna Rada and Presidential Secretariat’s wheelings and dealings. It is generally known that part of Ukraine looks toward the West, while the other part keeps looking back to the East, heeding peremptory shouts from Ukraine’s Russian neighbor. Be that as it may, Ukraine is slowly but surely moving in the direction of reform and European integration. France is aware of this; it is prepared to support us provided we make sure where we are heading. Our partnership contacts are expanding with every passing year in terms of economics, agriculture, transport, science, and culture. This is hope-inspiring. Ukrainians can learn a lot from the French, including life style, know-how, ways to preserve our national heritage, and cultural exchanges. These are topics that will be explored in upcoming issues of The Day.