COSSACK EXPRESS 2001 LEGALIZED

On June 21 Verkhovna Rada finally approved the law On the Order of the Admission and Conditions Under Which Foreign Forces Can Operate on the Territory of Ukraine in 2001. In similar fashion the awkward situation, which Ukraine might have suffered as a result of the Cossack Express 2001 learning exercise, were averted. Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Questions of National Security and Defense Borys Andresiuk has stated that the law was good for our Armed Forces and made it possible for them to improve their training grounds, technology, and equipment. Moreover, such training exercises aid our army in coming closer to world standards and gaining the necessary experience. The committee head stated that the expenses appropriated were significant but needed for the army. However, he added, the day of the vote turned out quite serious with some fractions, notably the Communists, trying to block the vote, claiming that Ukraine’s image could be seriously compromised. According to Mr. Andresiuk, a great many people’s deputies connected the law with the election campaign, “but even with the election campaign we must take care of Ukraine’s priorities... And the parliament has shown in its vote on the bill that there is a healthy core of pro-statehood forces that do not wish to cater to anyone.”

It must be noted that the problem consists in the fact that without approval of this law foreign forces cannot be admitted to the territory of Ukraine. Yet as early as June 15 the Western Command of the Armed Forces began Cossack Express 2001 joint British- Ukrainian exercises at the Yavoriv Proving Grounds (Dmitry Kiseliov first turned attention to this on the “Fakty” ICTV program). The Western Operative Command has informed The Day that the basis of the instructional exercise is the president’s June 2 decision on the admittance of foreign armed forces into Ukraine. This is true, but only on order of the Supreme Command. Member of the Committee of the Supreme Command on Questions of National Security and Defense Heorhy Kliuchkov has informed The Day that in conformity with the law On the Order of the Admission and Conditions of Being on the Territory of Detachments of Foreign Armed Forces on the Territory of Ukraine the president’s decision required parliamentary approval, and in conformity with the law the parliament must look upon this law as having been deferred. This situation, believes Mr. Kliuchkov, creates a precedent that in Ukraine the laws are not observed and many consider the president’s decision sufficient. In such a case, the deputy adds, there is the Constitution which provides that only the parliament can allow foreign armed forces onto the territory of our state. In this situation, he believes, serious legal conflicts could arise if the parliament denies approval, even though the British forces are already here and the money already paid to state accounts. He asks, “The law has gone from the political to juridical plane... and juridical questions arise: who will answer for the fact that there are such forces in Ukraine?” According to him, the law provides for calling to account those who sanction violation of the Constitution and law on the order of the armed forces of foreign states to be within the territory of Ukraine.

Thus the general ignoring of procedure threatens society and the country with unforeseen consequences. In the developed countries guarantees of the inviolability of democracy is strictly safeguarded by procedure. As long as our legislative and executive branches fail to refrain from such hands-on control and continue to from time to time ignore the law, one cannot rule out that the country will always be threatened with extremism and not enjoy secure stability.