ON THE ROLE OF COMPLAINTS IN THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA

Almost simultaneously, President Clinton, in his annual message to Congress, pigeonholed a strategy aimed at preserving US leadership in the world arena. Shortly afterward, Secretary of State Madeline Albright went on a trip to Europe and the Middle East to canvass allies (NATO) and partners (Russia and Saudi Arabia) for possible forceful action against Saddam Hussein. Actually, all this was part of standard procedures resorted to when something goes sour indeed. Americans try to solve problems using active diplomacy, figuring out courses events could take, showing general mobility. Ukraine, more often than not, files complaints and asks favors. Anyway, such is the overall impression. It is not likely that Kuchma's next visit to the "senior strategic partner" Yeltsin will change this impression. After WW II, the United States expended a lot of money and energy tidying up its political neighborhood in the Americas, Europe, the Middle and Far East.

Ukraine is flat broke, although in the past six years it has had an excellent opportunity to apply a different strategy and correct the situation. If it did, Europe would, even though not immediately and not without reservations, meet Ukraine halfway as it tried to gain club membership, on a par with the normal civilized, developed, and influential countries. Be that as it may, Ukraine has kept this desire on paper throughout the period of independence, just as its foreign policy has remained sporadic. The much advertised equality of East-West relations holds little water, all things considered.

The Ukrainian government's clumsy maneuvering in the foreign economic and political domains has resulted in a situation in which Kyiv has to constantly remind itself and all the others of Ukraine's "crucial role" in European security and stability. Meanwhile, this very role is being actually played by Russia, with regard to all post-Soviet countries, so that no one seems overly interested to know Ukraine's views on events in Iraq or Bosnia — and those that show such interest act out of protocol.

The question is, Do we really want to join the European Union, or can all we can do is make complaints?