We Have Something To Exchange
Minister for Defense Yevhen Marchuk during his official visit to Estonia suggested that country take advantage of Ukrainian experience of participation in peacemaking operations. He discussed this Monday before last with his Estonian counterpart Margus Hanson, the Defense Ministry’s press service announced. The ministers discussed problems of international security, regional and bilateral cooperation, and cooperation with NATO. In part, they spoke about reforming both countries’ Armed Forces, holding legal consultations, and exchanged views on the situation in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Balkans.
Minister Marchuk suggested that the Estonian side take advantage of Ukrainian military’s experience in peacemaking operations, in part in Iraq. “Here we could cooperate fruitfully,” he said. “We in Ukraine proceed from the assumption that the security architecture in Europe should be based on existing organizations. However, the broad evolution of the situation makes it necessary for these structures to develop. We can now arrange for information exchange on training peacemakers. We have unique experience in this field, but the current situation requires cooperation,” he emphasized.
Answering journalists’ questions after the talks, Minister Hanson said. “Our country’s leaders view developing and strengthening our cooperation with NATO as indispensable for Estonia’s security. Thus, issues of cooperation with the alliance and bilateral relations with NATO states occupy a special place in Estonia’s foreign policy. However, simultaneously the Estonian Republic is prepared to actively develop bilateral contacts with Ukraine.”
In this connection, Minister Marchuk stressed that today there are no external problems facing Ukraine’s rapprochement with NATO. “All the problems are internal, but we will solve them in due time,” he said.
As a result of the negotiations, the directors of the foreign cooperation bureaus of the two defense ministries signed a plan for bilateral cooperation for 2004 envisioning eight events to exchange experience in cooperating with NATO, hold legal consultations, and cooperate in the sphere of education. Half the scheduled events are to be held in Ukraine.
That same day President of Estonia Arnold Ruutel received Yevhen Marchuk. “Estonia, without doubt, will support Ukraine’s steps toward NATO accession. We are able and ready to pass on our experience in this field,” President Ruutel said.
In his turn, Yevhen Marchuk stressed that both states have considerable resources to promote their cooperation. “In part, we are very much interested in Estonia’s broad experience in cooperating with NATO,” he said.
