Kuchma seeks free trade zone in CIS (06/10/01)

Kuchma seeks free trade zone in CIS

by Roman Woronowycz
Kyiv Press Bureau

KYIV - Ukraine's President Leonid Kuchma said on June 1 in Miensk that without closer economic coordination and, most importantly, the creation of a free trade zone, the prospects for the Commonwealth of Independent States are dim. President Kuchma said the CIS would never became a serious influence, either within the region or internationally, until it finds a purpose.

"If there are no economic interests in the CIS, political prospects for it are an illusion," said Mr. Kuchma, who added, "Everything is based on the economy."

The Ukrainian president called the organization "a large consultative council," but did acknowledge that it gave state leaders a chance to solve problems in face-to-face meetings during the summits.

Mr. Kuchma made his remarks during the biennial meeting of presidents of the countries that make up the CIS, a loosely knit organization that has yet to decide on its purpose, which today is bound informally by the status of its member-states as ex-Soviet republics.

Ukraine's president said that while he will continue to pursue the idea of a free trade zone for the region, he currently did not see any possibility that it would succeed. He named Russia as the prime opponent to such a move, a position he said was Moscow's right to hold. Mr. Kuchma said that, even if Moscow would fall in line with the majority of other CIS members who had indicated their support for the special economic zone, the country would demand the exclusion of so many commodities that the purpose of the zone would be defeated.

While Ukraine and the other 13 states signed nine international agreements at the conclusion of the CIS summit on June 1, not one of them can be considered an important document and most were of the most banal sort, such as an address on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the second world war.

Mr. Kuchma spent much of his time in Miensk meeting one-on-one with the various leaders, including Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia, Eduard Shevardnadze of Georgia, Alyaksandr Lukashenka of Belarus and Askar Akayev of Kyrgyzstan.

Amid the various remarks made by President Kuchma during the CIS summit after consultations with other leaders was a reaffirmation that Ukraine does not intend to join the Belarus-Russia union.

"Ukraine has made its choice, we are also for union, but the European one, although it will take much more time for us to get there," said Mr. Kuchma.

He said that he saw no other prospect for economic development except for the European model.

The president also said he believed that relations with Belarus and President Lukashenka would improve with the appointment of Anatolii Kinakh as Ukraine's new prime minister.

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