Chancellor Kohl reiterates German support for Ukraine during Kyiv visit (09/08/96)

Chancellor Kohl reiterates German support for Ukraine during Kyiv visit

by Roman Woronowycz
Kyiv Press Bureau

KYIV - German Chancellor Helmut Kohl delivered a singularly strong message here during his two-day visit on September 3-4: Ukraine was, is and will continue to be an integral part of Europe, and Germany will support the five-year-old country in strengthening the bond at every juncture.

Much of the discussions with Ukrainian leaders centered on expanding and strengthening relations between the two countries during this, his second visit to Ukraine. His first trip occurred two and a half years ago.

He met with most of Ukraine's political leaders, including President Leonid Kuchma, Prime Minister Pavlo Lazarenko, Parliament Chairman Oleksander Moroz and Foreign Affairs Minister Hennadiy Udovenko.

Chancellor Kohl repeatedly stated Germany's commitment to continued Ukrainian independence and deepening ties with the European Union. At a press conference at the Presidential Palace on September 4, he stressed Germany's interest in a stable and independent Ukraine. "Europe needs Ukraine as much as Ukraine needs Europe," said the German leader.

The day before at the Kyiv State University of Taras Shevchenko, where almost 1,000 students and academics packed a hall meant to hold 500, and where he was awarded an honorary doctorate by Rector Viktor Skopenko, Mr. Kohl re-marked, "Ukraine was and continues to be a part of the European culture. Today it can play an important role in building bridges to the south and east on our continent."

At another point he said, "Your large country is a part of the European family. Kyiv and Lviv are as much European cities as Warsaw, Berlin and Paris."

The chancellor came to Kyiv with more than mere rhetoric. At Kyiv University he announced that Germany will open a Student Exchange Bureau in Ukraine. He also affirmed that he was committed to opening a free trade zone between Ukraine and Europe by 1998.

On September 3, Mr. Kohl, President Kuchma and Prime Minister Lazarenko signed a series of documents at Mariyinsky Palace: an agreement on cooperation in matters related to ethnic Germans living in Ukraine; a communiqué on the acceleration of cooperation in continuing economic reform in Ukraine; an agreement on cooperation between Ukrtelekom and Deutschtelekom; and a protocol on documents of ratification for the elimination of dual taxation.

The Ukrainian economy and investment were the focus of much of the discussions held between the Ukrainian leaders and Mr. Kohl. Today Germany is Ukraine's leading trade partner in Europe. In the last year German investment in Ukraine has risen by 70 percent and today is approximately $174 million. There were 460 German-Ukrainian joint ventures operating in Ukraine at the beginning of 1996.

Chancellor Kohl's entourage included entrepreneurs and CEOs, in addition to the usual political and economic aides. Uriadovyi Kuriyer, the official newspaper of the Ukrainian government, announced on September 5 that several major investment agreements had been signed with German firms, including a 25 million DM contract for the building of a high-tech tobacco plant in Kyiv, and another for modernizing and expanding the Odessa Airport.

At a joint press conference with Mr. Kohl, President Kuchma said European security and how Ukraine could participate was another topic discussed. Referring to NATO, Mr. Kuchma said, "Ukraine again reasserts that it is not against expansion of the alliance but that the interests of all sides concerned must be duly regarded and properly secured."

Mr. Kohl agreed that discussions must appease all the parties involved. "The point is not to dig trenches but to satisfy everybody. Each country must decide in which way to proceed," he said. He added that the current heated debate on NATO's future is a product of election seasons in Russia and the U.S. and that any further discussions on NATO expansion should take place after the U.S. elections.

A final and equally important issue resolved here was the return of national treasures to the respected countries. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Ivan Kuras and German Ambassador to Ukraine Eberhardt Heiken signed a protocol to that effect on September 3. The two officials announced that thus far Germany had returned to Ukraine 173 rare books and icons of the 18th century, as well as a Scythian bronze mirror, while Ukraine returned to Germany 211 etchings of the collections of the Dresden Gallery.

In addition to his visit to Kyiv State University, Chancellor Kohl visited a recently opened cemetery for World War II German war dead and Ukraine's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Currently, 4,481 soldiers are buried in the German cemetery with 40,000 more to be reburied.

On Wednesday afternoon the German leader and Prime Minister Lazarenko traveled to Odessa to meet with the head of the Odessa Regional Administration, Ruslan Bodelan, and Odessa Mayor Eduard Hurvitz, after which Mr. Kohl returned to Bonn.