Olav BERSTAD: “We do not understand Russia’s arguments that neighboring countries’ membership in NATO is a threat”
Why does this member of NATO not want to join the European Union? These and other questions are answered in an exclusive interview with the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Norway to Ukraine, Olav BERSTAD:
Can your experience of cooperating with the EU be helpful for Ukraine, which is eager to join the EU?
“I think there are several lessons to be learned. One is that there is great benefit in harmonizing economic legislation, adapting your own economic legislation to the prevailing rules of your main trading partners. This not only has to do with the European Union but also with the World Trade Organization and integration into the global economic system. Norway is not declaring EU membership as a long-term goal. But our cooperation and integration with them has provided a very good platform for further Norwegian building of competence and competitiveness through participation in the European market. Norway is, on the other hand, a member of the European Free Trade Association. There is technical cooperation between Ukraine and the EFTA. Norway has a lot of experience with the issue of free trade, which is also becoming very important for Ukraine now.”
What is your take on Ukraine’s eagerness to join the EU and the insistence of the Ukrainian government to have its membership prospects included in the future agreement between the EU and Ukraine?
“I think it is all logical. We see that the whole process of gaining membership in the EU by Poland and all other countries includes a deep and positive transformation of society. It is only logical if Ukraine also tries to proceed along this path. And Norway, even without being a member of the European Union, is very supportive of this enlargement process, of the expansion of stability, prosperity, and cooperation in Europe. But it is not for us to say anything definite about Ukraine-EU relations, but in principle, if Ukraine were to be given membership prospects, it would not be disadvantageous to us. This is my personal opinion.”
Some politicians in Ukraine would like the country to be neutral. Do you think that neutrality can protect Ukraine?
“I don’t regard Ukraine as being neutral. Ukraine has already taken a position, especially if one compares with the past. We are broadly speaking of the same “family,” we have the same interests in stability and development in Europe and beyond. Then, whether a country has membership in one organization or another may not be so critically important. What is important is whether one is on the side of development, peace, and solidarity. I don’t think it is a catastrophe for European security if Ukraine does not join NATO in the foreseeable future.”
Your country joined NATO in 1949. What benefits did Norway get from membership in NATO?
“NATO was born out of a very specific and threatening political and military situation in Europe. NATO has been very good for Norway. It has allowed us to be part of the alliance and exercise influence on very critical issues in Europe and globally. The dialogue and discussion among equal members around the same table, day after day, week after week, year after year in Brussels are definitely of great benefit. Norway has never been excluded in any way from the most serious discussions. And NATO builds on consensus, this is very important to note. Also in technical military terms, our membership in the North Atlantic Treaty has been of great importance.
“In the past I viewed NATO primarily as a very effective platform for cooperation, political consultation, and decision. I was not very focused on the value aspect. What we see now in European development after the collapse of the Soviet Union is that NATO membership has been part of the democratic reform process in Eastern Europe.
“In addition, the EU and other organizations are in principle part of the same process. From that perspective, a possible NATO membership action plan for Ukraine would open very interesting prospects. Many politicians in Ukraine see this. But there is the question of whether this would negatively affect its relationship with Russia. Norway also has a common border with Russia. Russia is a very important partner for us, especially in dealing with many economic and environmental challenges in the north. We don’t understand the Russian argument that the membership of a neighboring country in NATO is a threat or undesirable for Russia.
“On the contrary, Russia needs strong, stable, and prosperous neighbors. The stabilization processes in Europe are of direct benefit to Russia. It does not harm Russia at all to have, for instance, the Scandinavian countries as strong neighbors and partners in the north. So then, what is the problem with strong and good partners on other parts of the border? We are also trying to reduce the significance of borders as barriers between countries and peoples. We need to reduce them.”
Some time ago there were hopes in NATO and Ukraine that the Rуga Summit would open MAP up for Ukraine. But this did not happen. Can we expect some progress with Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic integration during the informal meeting of foreign ministers in Oslo this week?
“NATO’s view is that it depends on the wishes of Ukraine. If Ukraine shows a very strong desire to have this action plan, to become a member, we can expect the member countries of the alliance, including Norway, to be positive to this. NATO’s doors are in fact open. Ukraine is not being pushed away. This is a decision for Ukraine to take, but it will require substantial further reform and development of your society and its institutions. On the other hand, cooperation with us is already well advanced in several areas and it is giving a lot to Ukraine. This cooperation is also regarded as valuable by the alliance. The meeting in Oslo is very important, but I don’t expect any dramatic things to happen with regard to Ukraine.”
Can you describe what achievements or problems there are in our bilateral relations?
“It is interesting to note that already in the Middle Ages, the age of the Vikings, there were very strong dynastic connections, trade, etc., with Kyivan Rus’. Kyiv was an important intermediary point between Scandinavia and Constantinople. Today, trade between our two countries is not very significant but growing. We have made some large investments in Ukraine in light industry, shipbuilding, and telecommunications. And the most prominent investments were made by Telenor in Kyivstar. The raiding problems there are well known and of great concern to us. We have also some rapidly growing interest in the information and technology sector. So we expect deeper economic cooperation in the future. We are already very satisfied with the cooperation on the political level, in international organisations, and bilaterally.”
