Says European Parliament’s Jan Marinus Wiersma
Jan Marinus Wiersma, head of the European Parliament’s delegation on relations with Ukraine, told The Day that Ukraine is in the early phase of democracy, despite its problems with the rule of law, freedom of the press and media, and market economy. The European Union will closely follow the parliamentary campaign. Mr. Wiersma agreed that EU will not be in a position to prevent possible transgressions during the campaign but noted that the EU observers will register all such cases and that appropriate conclusions will be made afterward.
The Day: Mr. Wiersma, you are aware of the situation in Ukraine, as you often visit this country. What is your general impression?
Wiersma: Ukraine is an example of how a country remains halfway toward its goal without completing the transition period. It is a country facing a multitude of economic, social, and political problems. There are still complications in defining Ukraine’s place in Europe. I think that Ukraine should be more energetic to reach the level of certain EU candidate members like Poland or Hungary. And there is also progress. This year was good in terms of the economy, with a certain trend toward stability. I think this very important. Ukrainian democracy, even if in its early phase, is in a better state than, say, in Belarus. Regrettably, you have still to develop a market economy. Ukraine is on its way to it, so Western companies are unwilling to invest. Also, you have problems with the rule of law. See how the administration and government work at all levels? It is not a reliable political system as, for example, in the Netherlands, my native country. Ukraine is still unable to solve the problem of consolidating democracy. The president and parliament are at odds, and there is struggle within parliament. And your freedom of the press? Journalists are arrested, and newspapers find their work hampered. Journalists even get killed. Of course, we are concerned about the situation.
We are waiting for the next parliamentary elections and want them to be fair and honest.
The Day: Do you think that the European observers will help?
Wiersma: We are following the campaign, because we want to prevent the kind of situation we witnessed in Belarus. President Kuchma generally agrees to the observers’ presence, and the idea was supported by the Verkhovna Rada. We haven’t discussed the details yet, but we can use our Belarusian experience in Ukraine; there will be a single team made up of people from the European Parliament, OSCE, and Council of Europe. It’s best to arrive three months before the election itself, when the official campaign starts. We will monitor the registration of candidates and see that all have equal opportunities as well that all political parties can hold rallies and publish their campaign programs. We will check the number of minutes spent by every politician and party on the air.
The Day: Suppose the chairman of a village council tells the villagers to vote for a certain candidate. What can you do about a situation like that?
Wiersma: We can only register such cases. I hope that Ukrainians will help us collect such information. On receiving it we will, of course, make the appropriate conclusions. If the chairman of a village council tells the villagers who to cast their ballots for, it’s a situation totally contradicting our view of fair elections. If we are invited to Ukraine, the authorities will have to realize that we will monitor not only the elections, but also the electoral process.
The Day: You said that our democracy is better than in Belarus. Is this your personal experience?
Wiersma: I also said that your democracy is not perfect, but your deputies can oppose the president more openly. I spoke to Leonid Kuchma. We were frank, he responded to what I had to say and accepted EU criticism. We communicate with Ukraine in the open, but although our critical remarks are accepted changes do not take place immediately. Consider our joint statement on the results of the EU- Ukrainian summit in Yalta. Is it possible even to imagine such a document with regard to the Belarusian government? There is considerably more pressuring and bullying in Belarus. I feel free in Ukraine. Not so in Belarus which is still a KGB country.
The Day: What about Ukrainian and European parliamentary cooperation?
Wiersma: We had our first meeting two years ago. At the time the Ukrainian deputies were hesitant about European integration. Such sentiments have since vanished without a trace. We openly discuss EU- Ukrainian relationships and the situation in your country, with all deputies taking part in the discussion, Communists included.
The Day: Have any of the Ukrainian people’s deputies mentioned the need for Kyiv to consider EU membership?
Wiersma: Many Ukrainian politicians realize that this is a good question, except the time is not ripe yet. The Union and Ukraine should rather concentrate on practical cooperation and develop your country’s European orientation.
