Ukraine’s Middle East Breakthrough
Leonid Kuchma’s trip to the Middle East has been described and commented upon in a variety of ways. Some analysts have pointed to Kyiv awakening from a long sleep, and that Ukraine is finally showing activity to obtain access to markets still not completely explored. Others have emphasized the fact that the Ukrainian chief executive ventured a trip to areas that are anything but safe with a message of peace to convey Ukrainian proposals to Arab leaders to help settle the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Some experts have been careful to note the fact that Mr. Kuchma’s visit to Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan is this year’s first trip abroad (not counting the CIS). Western media outlets are closely following his Middle East movements, mostly in the context of the arms supplies scandal and the alleged Ukrainian leadership’s involvement in the sales of materiel to Iraq.
Ukraine’s quest for partners in the Middle East is explained primarily by economic factors. With quotas being constantly levied on Ukrainian exports in the West, Kyiv’s attempts to gain a foothold in new markets are only to be expected, as evidenced by Ukrainian dignitaries’ repeated trips to African, Asian, and South American countries for trade and economic consultations. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Anatoly Zlenko toured Persian Gulf states several months ago for just as mercantile a purpose: establishing economic relationships. Kyiv expects return visits. As for Ukrainian contacts with the Middle East, their low status is illustrated by statistics: last year’s commodity turnover with Syria amounted to $180 million; with Lebanon, $100 million. On the one hand, this is quite substantial (considering that such turnover with some African countries does not reach a thousand dollars). On the other hand, it does not take an expert to grasp the importance of improving trade and economic cooperation with these countries. Ukraine is interested in Syria primarily in terms of gas and oil fields. Its output has lowered considerably of late and Ukrainian Vice Premier Oleh Dubyna says Kyiv could assist with prospecting and drilling. Ukraine further plans to bid in a tender for the construction of a pipeline to carry oil from the Persian Gulf and across Syria, but here Kyiv is faced with formidable contenders: Russia and France.
It is no secret that the Kyiv peace initiatives concerning the Middle East conflict are not taken seriously by many, the more so that Ukrainian diplomats repeatedly point out that Ukraine does not intend to take over the peace initiative from the principal intermediaries: the United States, European Union, and Russia. And so when it was officially announced before Mr. Kuchma’s trip that he would relate those peace proposals in the course of his Middle East tour, the whole thing appeared quite ostentatious. After all, everything the Ukrainian head of state has had to say on the matter – stopping the bloodshed in that region – is nothing new in principle. Kyiv insists on implementing the UN Security Council’s resolution by both Israel and Palestine. Mr. Kuchma also reaffirmed last year’s Kyiv proposal to hold Israeli-Palestinian talks in Ukraine.
Peace initiatives are good, but presidential attention is perhaps even better. True to tradition, Leonid Kuchma awarded three Middle East leaders – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, his Lebanese counterpart Emile Lahoud, and Jordanian King Abdullah Bin Hussein – Orders of Yaroslav the Wise, First Class, in recognition of their “meritorious personal contribution in the development” of relations with Ukraine.
On April 24, during his official visit to the capital of Jordan President Leonid Kuchma came forward with Ukraine’s proposals as part of international diplomatic efforts to defuse the Middle East crisis. Ukraine supports the deployment of multinational forces in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to create conditions propitious for peace talks to reestablish the Palestine autonomy. The end result of such talks, according to the Ukrainian side, should be ending the occupation of Palestinian territories as well as ensuring the safety of Palestinian refugees as a precondition for the peaceful coexistence of Israel and Palestine. One of the ways to reach this goal, Ukraine believes, is “unconditional and immediate withdrawal of Israeli troops from the territories of the Palestinian national autonomous area.” According to Pres. Kuchma, “Ukraine confirms its readiness to offer its territory for one or several rounds of peace talks.” The provisions laid down by the Ukrainian side condemn acts of violence on the part of Israeli troops as well as put forward an initiative of official circles in Ukraine as to the necessity to hold a special international donor conference under UN aegis to raise funds for humanitarian aid. Moreover, the president of Ukraine has called for humanitarian aid to be immediately delivered to the civilians who have suffered in the Palestinian territories.
