For the Sake of Stability

Ukrainian units may take part in the stabilization forces in Iraq, said Steven Pifer, Deputy Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, following a meeting of the Ukrainian-US Foreign Policy Committee. He added that the Ukrainian military has great opportunities that will be useful. According to the Ukrainian presidential press service, Mr. Pifer stated at a meeting with the Ukrainian head of state that Ukraine has demonstrated its ability to make a tangible contribution in European and world security.

Volodymyr Yelchenko, state secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who headed the Ukrainian delegation during the latest Ukrainian-US consultations, said, “Ukraine wishes and has an opportunity” to participate in international stabilization forces. Steven Pifer stressed that both countries have made progress in bilateral relations over the past four years, and that it is necessary to deepen and expedite this progress, expanding cooperation in terms of democracy, security, and the economy. Mr. Pifer made it clear that the measures taken by the Ukrainian government to establish democratic institutions are an extremely important sphere that will also help broaden Ukraine’s cooperation with Euro-Atlantic institutions. He emphasized that the United States supports Ukraine’s WTO membership. In other words, Washington clearly points out to Kyiv that improving relations and securing US support of Kyiv’s stated intention to achieve rapprochement with NATO will largely depend on Ukraine’s stand in the postwar process in Iraq, as well as on its domestic and foreign policies.

The situation is evolving rapidly in Iraq and there is little time left to make decisions. The possibility of Ukraine’s involvement in the stabilization forces was first mentioned in late April. A coalition meeting is scheduled for May 22-23 in Warsaw. Among other things, it will discuss the possibility of a Ukrainian contingent. Many experts believe — and common sense also says so — that Ukraine should use this opportunity, as its participation in Iraq would help this country (a) improve its relationship with the United States and (b) give domestic companies a better chance to have a piece of the Iraqi pie. Incidentally, the Americans make no secret of the fact that Ukraine’s decision to dispatch its radiation-chemical-bacteriological warfare defense battalion to Kuwait played an important role in smoothing out relations with Washington. As for Ukraine’s participation in the postwar reconstruction of Iraq (which has not suffered as badly as expected), Stephen Pifer said after a meeting with Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn that the United States will assist Ukrainian companies in making beneficial contracts.