“Intrinsic understanding of the freedom of speech,”

There is a difference between seeing a thing from a distance and viewing it from up close. Indeed, from a distance it is evident that in foreign policy Germany tries not to irritate Russia, calls it an important partner, and includes it in all processes. The position of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel on not granting the [NATO] Membership Action Plan to Ukraine and Georgia at the Bucharest Summit was a vivid example of this. It was Merkel who, despite the resolute readiness of the former US President George Bush, opposed it, German deputies confirm this. French President Nicolas Sarkozy was in a restroom when the decision was taken.

One can understand the reason for such a position of Germany, which some Ukrainian diplomats call “Russia ueber alles,” only from close up, having heard the explanations directly from politicians and experts. The Friedrich Naumann Foundation, which is close to the Free Democratic Party, gave such an opportunity to a group of four Ukrainian and Russian journalists by organizing meetings with German politicians and experts in Brussels and Berlin within the framework of the program “NATO and its relations with Russia and Ukraine.”

THE RUSSIAN FACTOR IN GERMAN POLITICS

Actually, during all meetings it was pointed out that Germany was not going to take any special road, but that it would coordinate its actions on the international arena with such organizations as the UN, NATO, and the EU. However, at the same time, it was unanimously stressed that Russia was important for solving global problems. At this, experts stressed that Russia was not what it thought it was, but that it could torpedo the efforts of the international community.

A representative of the Christian Democratic Union, which is part of Germany’s ruling coalition, also spoke about the importance of relations with Russia and Ukraine. Moreover, this politician believes that the law on the foundations of domestic and foreign policy, adopted on July 2 by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, is Ukraine’s temporary departure from NATO. “It is important,” he stressed, “for Ukrainians to want membership, and NATO will always keep the door open for Ukraine.”

By the way, the representatives of the Bundeswehr [German defense forces. – Ed.] seem to be the most optimistic about the future membership of Ukraine in NATO. During a presentation discussing the importance of NATO’s cooperation with Kyiv and Moscow, Ukraine was painted blue on a diagram, like members of NATO, while Russia was painted white.

At this, a colonel of the General Staff pointed out, “Our relations with Ukraine are so good that we would like one day to meet at one table in Brussels — the NATO headquarters.” A representative of the General Staff said that one could not take the argument that Ukraine’s membership in NATO would weaken the organization seriously. This was an argument voiced by one of former ambassadors of Germany to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, experts from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs draw attention to the fact that any expansion of NATO must bring stability to Europe, and any country wishing to become a member must respect and practically enforce the values of the organization.

A representative of the German foreign policy institution paid attention to the fact that the notion of neutrality or freedom from bloc affiliations is not specific to our century. “One shouldn’t invent a new architecture of security; one should join the existing ones. It is better to act practically, not based on some ill-defined notions. It is important to cooperate in concrete spheres, and then it will be clearer,” stressed the German official.

At the same time, he believes that Russia has interests that should be taken into account, and one should not shut one’s eyes to Medvedev’s proposal. One should think of spheres where we can cooperate more, he stressed. As it is known, the US formulated their position regarding the Medvedev’s proposal long ago. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke about this several times, pointing out that no new treaties were necessary; one should use the existing instruments and mechanisms, improving them if needed. Europe, as well as Ukraine, still does not have a distinct position on Medvedev’s initiative, which some EU leaders call interesting and requiring examination. However, two years have passed and the EU still didn’t elaborate any single position on this initiative.

A deputy from the Christian Democratic Union explains this by the fact that the EU lacks the ability to speak in one voice. This is no homogeneous bloc, and inside there is a struggle for influences, he admitted, adding that after the Treaty of Lisbon “we are trying to make Europe speak in one language.”

German experts evaluate the proposals of the Russian president regarding the new European security architecture as an indicator of Russia’s exclusion from consultations about the new international order. In the opinion of experts, the Corfu Process and Medvedev’s initiative strengthen European security.

During all the meetings a negative attitude to Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili was felt. A representative of the general staff admitted: perhaps it was for the better that Georgia was not granted the Membership Action Plan, as we do not consider what Saakashvili did to be a skillful trick. At the same time, all politicians and experts strongly condemn Russia’s recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. “We can’t tolerate such policy. In this case Russians crossed the ‘red line,’ violating international law. Therefore the Russian position on such issues is not acceptable for us,” stressed the representative of the Christian Democratic Union.

GERMAN CHALLENGES FOR UKRAINE

It seemed that after the current government removed the issue of Ukraine’s membership in NATO, the path to the European Union will be open for Kyiv, and our country will be supported by Germany. Perhaps this was the official vision during the first visit of the Ukrainian president to the West. But in fact, it is not so. As European experts singled out in Brussels, the supply of gas was the main issue for Germany. For Ukraine the only alternative is a gradual, step-by-step approach to the EU. Moreover, a Brussels-based expert pointed out, the prospect of Ukraine’s membership in the EU is a difficult question for Germany. “Taking into consideration the geographical location of Ukraine and a possible reaction of Russia to it, Germany is skeptical about the membership of Ukraine in the EU,” he said. At this, the expert added that for Europeans it would be more difficult to accept a country with a different history and culture, especially one that was divided into east and west.

German experts are more optimistic. They believe that Russia has no ways to hinder Ukraine’s membership in the EU. The main thing is for Ukraine to adopt the acquis communitaire (the EU body of laws). As it is known, the Free Democratic Party supports Ukraine’s membership in the EU. The member of this party believes that the countries participating in the Eastern Partnership have a possibility to approach the EU and become members of the European Community in the future. “The doors of the EU are open, and many countries see Ukraine as a candidate. Perhaps membership is a prospect for the next generation. We must resolutely draw Ukraine and the EU closer together. But on the part of Ukraine there should be steps making the customs union impossible,” he said.

Meanwhile, a representative of the German Foreign Ministry pointed out that they took into account the fact that the EU membership process of Eastern Partnership countries was not directed against Russia. And Russia cannot deny this, on the contrary, it can benefit from improving relations between Ukraine and the EU. “Regarding the prospects of Ukraine’s membership in the EU, it deals first of all with fulfilling specific steps, many preconditions. The Ukrainian government doesn’t understand that negotiations are not held in a bathhouse, but at the negotiations table, where concrete issues are solved,” stressed the German diplomat.

Though experts in Germany stressed that the German psyche was not burdened by a feeling of guilt, not everyone in Ukraine agrees with this. As one Ukrainian diplomat pointed out in a conversation with the author: “Germany’s attitude to Russia can be characterized as hate-love. Germany has a feeling of guilt towards Russia, but not towards Ukraine and Belarus. Germans feel guilty but they remember very well that Russia cannot be driven into a corner. Therefore they try to keep Russia involved and actually continue the strategy of Willy Brandt — to cooperate with Russia.”

According to the diplomat, Germany is not a global country and is not trying to become one. After the war its role decreased due to the psychological trauma and restrictions. And now, the interlocutor added, Germany focuses on several things. Firstly, this is the EU and countries which can become members of the European community. This takes 90 percent of its attention. Russia takes the second place, the US takes the third, and the Middle East — the fourth.

At this, Germany views Russia through the prism of the Soviet Union — without which one cannot guarantee stability and security. Involving Russia in G8 and G20 considerably increased its importance. Russia is regarded as a big partner on the international arena in such spheres as energy, gas, and oil. Most Germans believe that they should deal with Russia in any case. “Stability above all!,” points out the Ukrainian diplomat. According to him, German business recently cut down its cooperation with Iran, due to noise and pressure from the EU. The government ignored violations of human rights in this country for a long time too. Germans do not have an intrinsic understanding of what democracy and freedom of speech are, the diplomat believes, adding that sometimes one can see a surge, as with the attitude of the German government to Tibet.

In this attitude, the diplomat supposes, Merkel periodically bifurcates: under the German Democratic Republic she didn’t fight for freedom, and joined the process only at the end, but she has an acute reaction to infringements of the freedom of speech. Therefore, for her it would be logical to participate in the awarding ceremony of the Danish cartoonist [responsible for the controversial Mohammed drawings. – Ed.] in Potsdam. According to the interlocutor, Germany treats China very cautiously, as it sees it as potentially damaging.

In her conversation with Yanukovych, Merkel touched the issue of the freedom of speech and human rights with much reserve. “There, in Germany,” explained the diplomat, “they understand very well that human rights in Ukraine are head and shoulders above Belarus and Russia. Until everything is constitutional and democratic and part of the internal policy — Germans will not mind it. But before that it was impossible to cooperate at all, there was nobody to negotiate with. Now Germans felt that there are people to cooperate and negotiate with. They welcome Ukraine’s intention to carry out reforms and are ready to assist in this as much as they can. The fact that they did not lose interest in Ukraine is confirmed by the financial and technical assistance, which remains on the level previous years. In other words, it means that Ukraine is an important country.”

Regarding the question of foreign diplomats accredited in Kyiv about where Ukraine is heading, the diplomat answered that one should carry out reforms and fulfill obligations. One should introduce all possible changes and use EU programs. The Eastern Partnership provides some EU funds for this. One cannot aspire to the EU by doing nothing, not introducing changes at all levels, not introducing European legislation. After adopting the Treaty of Lisbon, the EU is gaining speed.

In order for Ukrainians to be accepted as equals in Europe, the diplomat believes, we should be more open, develop roads, infrastructure, and hotels, and prepare cultural programs. Germans do not travel much to Ukraine, but those who come here become Ukrainophiles. There must be some reason for this. Those who came here see that Ukraine is Europe. Here, in Ukraine, 350 thousand Germans lived 200 years ago. That is why Germans should not discover Ukraine, but rediscover it, contends the diplomat.

The image of the country begins at home, and we can polish it and spread it, points out the diplomat. One cannot artificially create an image contrary to what it is at home. But for this one should make efforts in the cultural sphere, organize international festivals, take part in international book fairs, invite Ukrainians who gained fame abroad with home concerts. And, most importantly — the government’s policy and the country’s priorities should be distinct and well-defined. So far, we lack strategic vision at every step. There is nothing left but to agree with this conclusion of the diplomat. Nevertheless, it still remains a puzzle whether those in Kyiv who build a “new country,” so far only in words and billboards, will draw appropriate conclusions from it.