U.S. ambassador to NATO speaks on pact with Kyiv (04/06/97)

U.S. ambassador to NATO speaks on pact with Kyiv

by Roman Woronowycz
Kyiv Press Bureau

KYIV - The United States ambassador to NATO all but confirmed on April 1 that although Ukraine and NATO are working towards an agreement on cooperation, it will not have legal standing.

"I do not think that one should call it 'just' a political document," explained Ambassador Robert Hunter at America House in Kyiv at the conclusion of a two-day trip to Ukraine. "It will be signed by President [Leonid] Kuchma, by President [Bill] Clinton, by the General-Secretary of NATO [Javier Solana] and by the other 15 leaders of NATO members. It will be a very powerful signal of Ukraine's general membership in the European family. It will give much more than a legal document could."

He explained that even now Ukraine as a member of the Partnership for Peace has representation both at NATO headquarters and the central command post in Brussels, that it has the ability to consult with NATO on defense matters, regularly participates in NATO joint military exercises and is being encouraged to develop NATO-like military standards.

Ambassador Hunter, who said he had come to Ukraine because "it was important to visit [the country] during discussion on the NATO-Ukraine relationship," said everyone's expectation is that the formal signing will take place at the Madrid Conference of NATO scheduled for July 8-9.

He also confirmed that, no matter what Russia thinks, several Central European countries will be invited to join NATO. He downplayed Moscow's concerns that the expansion of NATO is a threat to Russia. "We see no gray zone developing because NATO is not pushing anyone away and drawing no lines."

Russia has been seeking veto power over some NATO decisions, or at least the right to sit in on NATO discussions, as a condition of a Russia-NATO charter. Mr. Hunter rejected that idea and any notion that there would be a secret arrangement with Russia or that U.S President Clinton had agreed with his Russian counterpart to a Yalta-style division of Europe. "We at NATO reject the idea of buffer zones, spheres of influence or even a balance of power," he explained.

He underscored that NATO policy is its alone to decide; that Russia would have no influence on what country is chosen for membership or what an agreement with Ukraine will look like. "NATO alone makes those decisions. They will be wide, open steps with transparent windows," Ambassador Hunter said.

However, he reaffirmed that NATO is looking for close cooperation with Moscow although it is for Russia ultimately to decide what that would look like. "There are some basic rules for European security. Anyone who is ready to play by the rules can take their place in the family of Europe," said Mr. Hunter. "We hope that Russia takes this chance to join the outside world."

The ambassador suggested that Russia could express its desire to become a part of the European security structure by taking a more active part in the Partnership for Peace program. "They have a good model, which is Ukraine. It is one of the most active members of the Partnership for Peace," he underlined.

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