Exclusive Interview of the Deputy Minister of the Foreign Affaires of Ukraine Mr. Yuriy Kostenko

1. Mr. Kostenko, as a Deputy Minister of the Foreign Affaires, what changes in the foreign policy of Ukraine do you anticipate following the arrival of the government lead by Mrs. Yulia Tymoschenko? What countries and regions will be top priorities in terms of developing bilateral relations? What are the prospects of bilateral and multilateral relations between Ukraine and the UAE, countries of the Persian Gulf and Middle East as a whole?     

 I would like to mention that the basic priorities of the foreign policy of Ukraine were set by the legislation, namely by the Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) of Ukraine “On Fundamental Directions of Foreign Policy of Ukraine” adopted as far back as in 1993 and by the subsequent relevant legislative documents. As a consequence, the foreign policy course of Ukraine remains stable and consistent. It is natural that the approaches of different political forces to the realization of foreign policy priorities may differ yet it does not mean that the basic goals are changing.

I think that it would be appropriate to speak about changes in the foreign policy of Ukraine of the government lead by Mrs. Yulia Tymoshenko only in the context of new opportunities for the more active realization of our foreign policy course. 

 As for the foreign policy priorities of our country, they are well known. This is the European and Euro-Atlantic integration, strategic partnership with Russia, Poland and USA, mutually beneficial positive relations with the neighboring countries, the enhancement of the regional positions of Ukraine, an active peacemaking policy and participation in the work of international organizations. An important direction of our foreign policy is also the comprehensive support of economical interests of Ukraine, protection of the rights and interests of its citizens abroad, promotion of Ukrainian culture and information about our country worldwide.

 In this context, the new government is facing specific goals. The interests of our country should be reflected, as much as possible, in the new basic agreement with the European Union; we also should initiate negotiations on the creation of the Free Trade Zone with the EU and continue the work on simplification of the visa requirements with the European Union and its separate countries. We also need a more actualized and specific dialogue with Russia and USA.

 One of the core directions of our foreign policy efforts from the viewpoint of regional context is to ensure an effective use of the transit potential of Ukraine.

As to the particular emphasis attached to the cooperation with separate states and regions, I would remark that in addition to our traditional priority relations with our strategic partners and neighboring countries, we are carefully studying the new opportunities of interaction with the countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Regarding the regional context, the exceptional priority is of course the Black Sea region. As the country currently being at the head of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, Ukraine feels particular responsibility for an efficacious integration of the Black Sea region into world economic space.

When mentioning the positive dynamics of the development of other world regions, we are looking for the opportunities of mutually beneficial cooperation, both at the bilateral and the regional basis. In this connection, I would emphasize our specific interest to the Middle East, in particular, to the countries of the Gulf. This region has an enormous significance for the global system of international relations. Here we find concentration of factors influencing the solution of many world problems. As the whole world community, our country is interested in the restoration of the positive security balance in the region, the soonest and efficacious settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, stabilization of the situation in Iraq, overcoming political crisis in Lebanon and in finding the acceptable solution with respect to the Iranian “nuclear program”.

As for the UAE, the history of diplomatic relations between our countries goes back already more than 15 years. In December 2007 we have celebrated 15 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations. The Emirates became one of the first Arabic countries where Ukraine has opened its diplomatic representation (in January 1994).

Several last years have seen a stable consolidation of the relations between Ukraine and the UAE. The two states have no controversies in the political sphere. A constructive dialogue about all issues of international life and bilateral cooperation is going on and the commodity turnover is steadily increasing. In July 2007, a UAE governmental delegation headed by acting First deputy Minister of Foreign Affaires of the UAE Dr. Tariq Ahmed Al-Haidan paid a visit to Kiev. During this visit, meetings with top officials, negotiations in the Ukrainian ministries and departments were held. On the grounds of preliminary understandings, political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affaires of the two states took place. At the end of January, 2008 in Abu Dhabi there was a second round of political consultations during which a discussion of bilateral cooperation issues and actual problems of international relations continued.

Both countries fruitfully cooperate at the international scene; in particular, Ukraine and the UAE actively interact in the framework of international organizations.

During the last six years, the trade and economic relations between the two states were steadily developing. Ukraine is one of the main trade partners of the UAE among the CIS states and by the trade turnover volume it occupies the second place after Russia. For its turn, the UAE occupy the 15^th place among Ukraine’s partners worldwide by the volume of service trade. At present, there is a significant potential for increasing the trade turnover. We have many interesting proposals for our Emirati partners. First of all, this is the production of mechanical engineering (aviation, shipbuilding), high technologies and agroindustrial complex. Ukraine is also prepared to offer equipment for oil-producing industries, services for orbital injection of Emirati satellites etc. It should also not be ignored that during the last years thousands of Ukrainians have visited the UAE as tourists. At the same time, the number of the UAE’s citizens is growing who visited our country and were able to familiarize themselves with its potential, in particular, in the area of education.

2. Mr. Kostenko, you have recently paid your first visit to the UAE and other countries of the Gulf; you have met in Abu Dhabi the Minister of Economy of the UAE, Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi. What issues were discussed at this meeting?

This meeting has been remarkable from the point of view that during this meeting the conceptual issues of further development of our bilateral trade and economic relations were discussed. The parties came to a mutual conclusion that it is necessary to intensify the efforts for the realization of the cooperation opportunities. As a positive factor evidencing the growth of the Ukrainian export to the region, was mentioned the increasing number of Ukrainian companies opening their representations and establishing joint companies in the UAE. Thus, during the last year, a joint Ukraine-UAE company at the basis of the Ukrainian enterprise “Kievpodzemdorstroy” was registered in Abu Dhabi, on December 2007 in the Free Zone of Sharjah emirate the regional technical center of “Motor-Sich” JSC was opened and in the “Jebel Ali” Free Zone the regional office of the corporation “Interpipe” – producer of pipes – started its activities.

A great deal of attention was given to the question of conducting the first sitting of the joint intergovernmental commission on issues of trade and economic cooperation and organization of business forums.

Who other officials and ministers of the UAE have you met with? What are the results of these meetings?

We have conducted political consultations with the acting First deputy Minister of Foreign Affaires of this country Dr. Tariq Al-Haidan. We have discussed an array of issues concerning bilateral and international cooperation. Considerable attention was given to the development of political dialogue at the high and the highest levels, the economic component of the relations between the two countries, the negotiating and legal base of these relations as well as to cultural and humanitarian relations. We have also discussed the problematics of the interaction in the framework of international organizations, struggle against contemporary challenges to security and the world, in particular, in the Middle East region.

4. During your trip, you have also visited countries neighboring to the UAE. Could you please tell us some details about it?

I have conducted fruitful political consultations on a broad range of questions in the Kingdom of Bahrain with the representatives of ministries of foreign affaires, trade and culture. A Memorandum on cooperation between the foreign policy establishments of the two countries was signed.

5. In accordance with the local statistics, the Ukrainian export to the United Arab Emirates has risen during three years (from 2003 to 2006) by more than 3,5 times. What, in your opinion, is it connected with? With the increased interest of the Arabic party to strengthening trade and economic relations with Ukraine? With counter-interest of the Ukrainian business and state sector to the Arabian Orient? With the activities of the Ukrainian Trade Center established in the UAE as a representative of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry?

In addition to the figure mentioned by you I would like to note that in 2007 the trade turnover between the two states was 40 % up to the previous year and exceeded $ 500 million what is a record. Based on results achieved in this year, the UAE became one of twenty main trade partners of our country, judging by the export volume.  

I am confident that this result is an indicator of an efficacious work at the Middle East direction of private companies and state institutions alike.

We are well aware that the Emirates are today a gateway allowing to effectively work in the framework of the customs union established by the Gulf Cooperation Council which also incorporates Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Oman. Since the unified customs zone has been established, around 80 % of production entering the territory of GCC countries were imported exactly through the territory of the UAE.

When speaking about the activities of the Ukrainian Trade Center which works during the last three years in the Emirates and represents also the interests of the CCI of Ukraine in the region, a specific concept of this project should be mentioned. A private initiative of a well-known Ukrainian businessman Sergei Pachkovsky has found broad support and the daily activities of the UTC including series of Ukraine-UAE business forums held both in Ukraine and in the UAE have substantially contributed to the establishment of direct contacts between business communities of the two countries. The informational component of the UTC’s activities should also be mentioned since it helps form a positive image of Ukraine among the Emirates’ population.  

6. A bilateral cooperation usually implies not only the trade and economic ties, but the development of humanitarian, educational and scientific programs as well. What are, in your opinion, the prospects of Ukrainian-Emirates relations in this sphere?

I suppose the potential of bilateral relations in cultural, humanitarian and educational sphere between Ukraine and the UAE is significant. In the last time, more and more Ukrainian artistic groups, well-known artists and musicians visit the UAE on concert tours and they always have big success.

The best Ukrainian football teams as first of all “Dynamo” (Kiev), “Shakhtar” (Donetsk), “Dnipro” (Dnepropetrovsk”) and others conduct in the UAE their trainings on a regular base. The visits of veteran selections of “Dynamo” (Kiev) football club to the UAE and of the Emirati footballers to Ukraine, including series of football matches, became a tradition.

In December of the last year, on the occasion of the 15^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and the UAE, in the “Al-Kibab” Art Gallery (Abu Dhabi) there was an art exhibition of the couple of the national artists of Ukraine Maria Ralko and Stanislav Adamenko. Selected works of these artists are still at display in our Embassy in the UAE.

Other important aspects of our cultural cooperation are plans of both parties with regard to the possible organization in the future of days of Ukrainian and Emirati culture in Kiev and Abu-Dhabi respectively.

 At the same time, for the subsequent formalization of our bilateral relations in the sphere of science, culture and education, we attach special importance to the expansion of the bilateral negotiating and legal base which would regulate and coordinate the activities of the parties in the above mentioned fields.

During my recent visit to the UAE and Bahrain with the purpose of conducting in these countries political consultations at the level of deputy ministers of foreign affaires, we have raised the question on the necessity to activate the joint activities for coordinating the texts of intergovernmental agreements on cooperation in the sphere of culture, science and technologies with these two countries.

In this connection, noteworthy is the traditional interest from the part of the nationals of the Middle East countries and, in particular, of the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain in education in the colleges and universities of our country.

In the course of my last visit to Manama, high ranking representatives of the government of this country have drawn our attention to the considerable interest being shown in Bahrain in the so called remote (e-learning) education. In this connection, we are going to provide several Gulf countries with exhaustive information on the availability in Ukraine of institutes and centres practicing this kind of educational methodology; in my opinion, it will help considerably increase the number of foreign students from the Middle East states learning in our country.

 
7. It was planned, in the last year, to conduct a visit of the Prime minister of Ukraine to the UAE: due to some reasons, it did not take place. Is it being planned to carry out such a visit in this year?

Indeed, the pre-schedule parliamentarian elections in our country have prevented such a visit in the last year. We hope such an important event for the comprehensive and fruitful development of our relations will take place in this year.

 
8.  How efficacious is in your opinion the conduct of bilateral business forums “Ukraine – UAE” initiated by the Ukrainian Trade Center in the Gulf countries, under active support of the Ukrainian CCI and the Embassy of Ukraine in the UAE? What are the results of such events, first of all, for Ukraine?

I think any event which is properly prepared, organized and conducted is a suitable basis for the construction of mutually beneficial cooperation. The business forums organized by the UTC in 2005-2006 have contributed to the “convergence” of Ukraine and the UAE. We know that only direct contacts will bring about positive results; it would be very difficult, without such measures, to activate the trade and economic relations.

In this connection I would like to note that it is being planned to hold business forums also in 2008 and I am sure the activities of the UTC will traditionally find support at the highest governmental level of Ukraine.

9. Recently the Ukrainian government has adopted a program on formation of the positive image of Ukraine abroad. What measures are being planned in the framework of this program? How will be realized the financing of Ukrainian representations and publishing houses publishing informational materials about Ukraine, having political, economical, investment and cultural directions? How will this program be implemented in the UAE and the Gulf countries?

The law of Ukraine on the state budget of Ukraine for the year 2008 envisages the allocation of UAH 15 million for financing projects in the sphere of formation of the country’s positive international image. At the Ministry, we are still working over projects we plan to implement with this purpose.

Moreover, determination of the list of these projects and the possibility of their realization greatly depend on the completion of work on the State program of formation of the positive image of Ukraine for the period till 2010 which is to be soon approved.

Currently the Ministry of Foreign Affaires of Ukraine is developing an integrated plan of actions on formation of the positive image of Ukraine abroad, in the framework of the said program. At the same time, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the work on the formation of our country’s positive image in the world which is an integral part of foreign policy activities of domestic diplomacy is being conducted continuously, irrespective of its financing.

10. What did you like in the UAE? What made on you the biggest impression?

My spouse and I were in the Emirates for the first time. We were amazed by the spirit of innovation which is inherent to virtually all spheres of the human activity in this country. The unusual scope of the construction industry, striking solutions of the state-of-the-art architectonic complexes, traffic junctions and interchanges calculated for many years ahead, implemented cosmic projects cause deep respect and simultaneously firm belief that the people of the UAE have a great and excellent future.