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Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty
Henry M. Robert

Will Poland Remain Ukraine’s ADVOCATE?

13 November, 2012 - 00:00
Photo by Volodymyr Rasner,The Day: Geremek (center) feels quite at home in Kyiv

The visit of the Polish Foreign Affairs Minister Bronislaw Geremek to Ukraine brought nothing sensational. However, there is some good news. The main news is that Warsaw suggested calling a Ukrainian-Polish conference on issues of European integration to discuss border questions, free trade, and other problems. Poland, according to Geremek, is interested in a project to transport Caspian oil to Gdansk through Ukrainian territory. Finally, it was agreed that Ukrainian President Kuchma and Polish President Kwasniewski will meet in late September in Ukraine. The city and the exact date have not been yet been specified.

Many generalities were uttered at Geremek’s meeting with President Kuchma, Prime Minister Pustovoitenko, and Foreign Affairs Minister Tarasiuk about Poland’s full support for Ukraine. It was also stated that “Ukraine affirmed its separateness from the post-Soviet theater,” although this is not at all obvious given Ukrainian realities. There were also some concrete things said.

First, the Polish interest in openness of Ukrainian-Polish borders. Loans may be forthcoming from TACIS and PHARE to improve border control.

Second, Poland has decided to carry out detailed research of the Polish-Ukrainian Polish Caspian oil transport project. Experts have to decide whether to build a new pipeline from the Ukrainian border to Gdansk or to reconstruct the existing one.

Third, Poland expressed interest in military and technical cooperation with Ukraine, in particular in the modernization of Soviet weapons.

This is very good. There are also plans to open an Institute of Ukrainian Culture in Warsaw and introduce WTO norms (Poland may demand Ukraine import more coal). Geremek also invited Ukraine to participate in peacekeeping operations in the Caucasus and Transnistria. However, it was not made public, what will be left from these plans if the Ukrainian crisis deepens and turns political as in Russia. Will Poland then remain Ukraine’s advocate in Europe? The presidents will most probably discuss this along with what monuments and inscriptions to put up in military cemeteries.

 

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