Yanukovych states Ukraine’s “pragmatic” foreign political strategy in Japan
Each visit of the Ukrainian head of state abroad has been making the new team’s foreign political tactic and strategy increasingly clear. However, it was in Japan that Yanukovych made it perfectly clear: forthright pragmatism is the watchword with him and his government. This followed from his speech addressing the students and teaching staff of the Kyoto University, one of Japan’s most prestigious institutions of higher learning.
He started by explaining the reason for his speech at that university: “This is my first visit to your country, which is one of the world’s leaders owing to the strength of this nation’s intellect and spirituality, and the unique ability to combine ancient cultural traditions with advanced science and technology. And so I could not miss the opportunity of communicating with this university’s teaching staff and students. These young people, the future elite of the Japanese nation, will largely determine how close Ukraine and Japan will become in the not so distant future.”
Commenting on the political situation in Ukraine, Yanukovych said that last year, following a democratic election, a pragmatic team had came to power: “Modernization of the country is our priority. We launched systemic economic and social reforms aimed at creating an investment-friendly and growing economy. To solve our tasks, we need to enlist external resources. We mean to work seriously and consistently in that direction; by our deeds we will prove to the world that Ukraine is a reliable partner, and that cooperation with Ukraine is mutually advantageous. We are addressing the international community in terms of economic interests, concrete actions, and predictable, systemic foreign policy.”
Yanukovych stressed that Ukraine’s main strategic objective remains EU membership, considering that integration with the European political, economic, legal, and social space is the guideline for systemic reforms. He added that last year relations with Russia had normalized, and that those with the United States, another important strategic partner continued evolving.
He noted that Ukraine is well aware of the modern trend toward the formation of a multipolar world, the appearance of new centers of growth and influence, particularly in Asia; that this explains Kyiv’s attempts to enhance cooperation with regional organizations of the Asia-Pacific region, such as APEC and ASEAN: “My visit to Japan is an important step in this direction. From the outset of Ukrainian independence Japan has ranked among Ukraine’s important foreign political partners. Ukraine is prepared and willing to further large-scale and mutually advantageous cooperation with your country in all spheres where there are mutual interests. We are interested in enlisting Japanese credit and investment resources, as well as in expanding credit and financial interaction, including within the framework of the Official Development Assistance program. One of our priorities is energy saving and environment based on the Kyoto Protocol’s Green Investment Scheme. I also consider cooperation in the agro-industrial complex [agribusiness] promising, in the usage of alternative energy sources, upgrading of utilities, gas transportation system, chemical and steel industries, transport infrastructure of Ukraine, as well as space exploration.”
Japanese business is interested in making investments in Ukraine. However, Japanese businessmen and government officials point to the absence of an agreement on the mutual protection of foreign inland investments as an obstacle. Being a majority in parliament, it is now up to the Ukrainian government to speed up Japanese investments and their concrete results.
In his speech President Yanukovych pointed out that what unites Japan and Ukraine is not only joyous events: “We are also united by tragic events. Our countries are the only ones in the world to have suffered from large-scale nuclear tragedies.” He thanked the residents of Kyoto and many other Japanese cities who responded to the tragedy that befell Ukraine a quarter of the century ago and sent aid to the victims of the Chornobyl nuclear station’s breakdown.
He noted that the Ukrainian people hold Japan in esteem, that Ukraine’s public interest in the unique Japanese culture and eventful history is increasing with each passing year. An increasing number of Ukrainian students begin to study Japanese. Sakura is a symbol of Japan, “but since the times of old the cherry tree has been Ukraine’s poetic symbol. I want the Japanese sakura and the Ukrainian cherry tree to grow and blossom side by side in the orchard of mankind, adding to each other’s beauty.” Yanukovych said he hoped that Ukrainian culture would become interesting and attractive to the Japanese students, and that some of the young Japanese intellectuals present would tangibly contribute to the strengthening of friendship and cooperation between Ukraine and Japan.
