Turning the pages back... September 10, 2001 (09/07/03)

Turning the pages back...

September 10, 2001

Two years ago in Yalta, Crimea, leaders of the European Union and Ukraine met on September 10-11 for their third annual summit - the first in Ukraine - which was seen to be a turning point during which relations would move from plans and ideas to practical cooperation. Our Kyiv Press Bureau chief, Roman Woronowycz, reported on the results of the meeting, noting that the final document stated that Kyiv and Brussels would now work more closely together to develop energy relations, to speed Ukraine's membership in the World Trade Organization and to resolve issues associated with illegal international migration ,as well as visa and border issues involved in the EU's planned expansion.

In the summit statement the EU called on Ukraine to provide for fully open and transparent democratic elections to Parliament in 2002, which would "demonstrate democratic progress in Ukraine." The final memorandum included language on the need for an improved legal basis for a truly free press, as well as support for deepening economic and administrative reforms and privatization, and seeing those processes through to completion.

EU Chairman Guy Verhofstadt stressed that the EU welcomes Ukraine's "European choice" and noted that it would be to Ukraine's benefit in its attempt to draw closer to the EU to ensure that the March 2002 parliamentary elections are free, fair and open, "to dispel all doubts that recently appeared in the EU" regarding whether Ukraine is moving towards democracy. "These elections are Ukraine's chance to show that freedom of the press is a reality and journalists have the possibility to work freely," he commented.

Beyond the talk on both sides about deepening and more fruitful relations in various spheres, the summit did generate some controversy, however. An EU official, Timo Summa, was quoted by Reuters as saying that the EU "troika" would have a tough message for President Kuchma at Yalta. "If President Kuchma is serious about Ukraine's European choice and putting the Gongadze affair and the other scandals behind him, he must clarify relations between the state and the media, and ensure safety for foreign investors."

Source: "EU and Ukraine meet in Yalta for third summit," by Roman Woronowycz, Kyiv Press Bureau, The Ukrainian Weekly, September 16, 2001, Vol. LXIX, No. 37.

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