How to turn an opponent into a NATO supporter?
Perhaps the most significant event in Ukraine’s foreign political life was the first round of thematic Ukraine-NATO consultations within the framework of an intensified dialogue concerning membership issues, which took place at the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels. According to participants, the talks were of a familiarizing nature. Apparently, the meeting was successful. After the talks the Ukrainian participants spoke in one voice about the fact that in the nearest future Ukraine and NATO will be able to raise the level of attitude toward the Membership Action Plan. Furthermore, Vasyl Filipchuk, head of the Ukrainian foreign ministry’s press service department, acknowledged the realistic prospects of Ukraine’s entry into NATO in 2008. There isn’t much time left. This probably explains official Kyiv’s activity in the NATO direction. Incidentally, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer is expected to visit Ukraine in mid-October. The Ukrainian foreign ministry has also declared “the expediency of an analysis” of relations with Russia in case Ukraine joins NATO. In the context of the election campaign that has now started in Ukraine, this statement is quite straightforward and sharply worded, considering the unpopularity of European integration “among the masses.” The Ukrainian political leadership appears to have finally mustered the courage to alter the existing situation and pay more attention to bringing the population up to date on the integration process. Ukraine’s first defense minister Kostiantyn MOROZOV, who holds the post of special envoy and who took part in the latest meeting in Brussels, told The Day as much.
Mr. Morozov, did the NATO people express concern over the recent crisis in Ukraine?
K.M.: No one did, and not just because it’s a domestic Ukrainian matter. NATO believes the Ukrainian government is capable of solving its problems by relying on democratic principles. However, the main point is that on the day the consultations began, everyone knew about the prime minister’s appointment and that work was underway to form a government. So there were no reasons for concern.
Did the Ukrainian delegation raise the issue of low support for Ukraine’s integration into NATO in Brussels? What recommendations did the alliance’s representatives offer?
K.M.: Ukraine is concerned about the kind of support it’s receiving for its European integration. We are aware that this is one of the most important links in the chain that determines our preparedness. Of course, no matter how well we honor our obligations and meet the required criteria, this effort will be worthless without public support. And so the Ukrainian foreign ministry developed a program aimed at “boosting” information work, involving embassy experts, including those at embassies of NATO member countries, as well as NGO experts.
Don’t you think that this work is unrealistic, considering that a large part of the population long ago adopted a set of stereotypes that no one seems capable of dispelling?
K.M.: These stereotypes result from the absence of information about the organization. Any real information about NATO’s actual status is a positive factor that forms public opinion, since there are no negative examples that could be used as a negative factor. NATO is not an aggressive bloc; NATO is being reformed and transformed from a military-political alliance into one that will not pose a threat to anyone. If this information can be conveyed to our society, the percentage of negative reaction to the integration policy will be considerably lower.
NATO isn’t scared by the fact that there is no consolidated effort in Ukraine with regard to the integration project — not only within our society but also within our political elite? A great many political forces that are still rather influential oppose Ukraine’s NATO membership.
K.M.: This fact can’t scare them away from us because these forces are not powerful. Some of these political forces aren’t adamantly opposed; they’re simply ill-informed.
Do you think politicians can also be convinced?
K.M.: Certainly. There are many examples when politicians, after obtaining more information, become less aggressive, if not outspoken supporters.
Some Ukrainian diplomats say that Ukraine will apply for NATO membership next year.
K.M.: This issue must be clarified. Unlike the EU, NATO doesn’t accept membership applications. In the EU’s case, membership applications are submitted and then certain criteria must be met. In the case of NATO, certain criteria must be met first and joint plans carried out, whereupon accession talks begin (after they are duly evaluated). The process ends with the signing of an accession protocol, which is a given aspirant country’s formal membership application signifying its acceptance of the binding alliance obligations.
Was the Russian issue raised during the talks, specifically Russia’s possible reaction to Ukraine’s NATO membership? Russian defense minister Sergei Ivanov recently declared that Kyiv-Moscow relations would be revised if and when Ukraine joins the Alliance.
K.M.: But he didn’t specify how these relations would be revised. I’m sure that, if and when Ukraine becomes a member of this international security organization, Ukrainian-Russian relations will markedly improve; they will become more dependable. Russia, as a member of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) and important partner of the alliance, is intensifying its relations with NATO. In this context, Ukraine is also an active EAPC member, so there are no controversies here whatsoever.
Still, was the subject of Russia’s possible response to Ukraine’s NATO membership actually raised?
K.M.: This response is already positive. The Russian Federation’s officials have repeatedly stated that Ukraine’s accession to NATO or refusal to join it is this country’s sovereign right.
