European Choice for the Majority

Ukraine will design its relations with Russia proceeding from its resolve to integrate into the European Union, said presidential adviser Anatoly Halchynsky at a briefing, April 17. He added that this is part of the conceptual principles of the Ukrainian socioeconomic strategy for 2002-03, titled The European Choice, and that President Kuchma will present it in his traditional annual message to parliament.

Mr. Halchynsky is quoted by Interfax Ukraine as saying that “relations with Russia are subordinated to the Ukrainian course of European integration, which is a principal aspect of the concept.”

He also stressed that the strength of the concept is that “we do not oppose Europe to Russia,” and that when working out the concept, the president was faced with “the complex issue of balancing the European course with our relations with Russia.” The president proceeds from the assumption that “the Russian direction must be maintained.”

“Russia is a European country, and it is going to play an increasingly important role in European politics,” Mr. Halchynsky said and pointed to the latest moves of the Russian leadership, aimed at stepping up contacts with the EU. He believes that Ukrainian-Russian ties must be part of the overall European- Ukrainian relationship, and that there are “tangible prospects of deepening cooperation with the Russian Federation and [other] CIS countries” and “great opportunities.”

Mr. Halchynsky believes that “the format of economic relationships within the CIS framework is still to be determined” and that creating a common market with Russia is one of the key theses of the concept.

He further believes that the European Choice’s conceptual principles in terms of 2002-03 socioeconomic development could be the economic basis upon which to form a parliamentary majority in Ukraine. “Everybody says that we need a program for the majority, so the president is offering such a program and strategy,” Mr. Halchynsky emphasized, adding that parliamentary majority means an integrated potential of the Our Ukraine and For a United Ukraine blocs, which “have the greatest resources to that end.” He stressed that, should their leaders “fail to reach an agreement, they will not fulfill themselves as politicians and there is no need for them to sit in parliament.”

Mr. Halchynsky noted that the president regards the problem of European integration “as a tool of the internal unification of this society” and that “a nationwide discussion of this problem” will take place this fall.