The Ukrainian Weekly 1997, No.23

www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE: • Russia, NATO, Ukraine: an analysis — page 2. • The issue of “summitspeak” — page 4. • Chervona Ruta Festival rocks Kharkiv — centerfold. HE KRAINI A N EEKLY T PublishedU by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profitW association Vol. LXV No. 23 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 8, 1997 $1.25/$2 in Ukraine U K R A INE, RUSSIA SIGN LO N G-AWAITED BILAT E R A L T R E ATY by Roman Woronowycz Kyiv Press Bureau KYIV — Russia’s President Boris Yeltsin came to Ukraine on May 30 on his first official state visit and signed a comprehensive treaty on friendship and cooperation with his Ukrainian counterpart, President Leonid Kuchma. In the document Russia formally recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country that for centuries was a centerpiece of its empire. The treaty marks “a new era” in the often bitter historic relations between the two countries, said President Yeltsin after signing the “big treaty,” as the two leaders have been calling it. Later, at a ceremony at the monument to the “Liberator Soldier,” not far from where the two presidents signed the historic document, President Yeltsin explicitly stated Russia’s recognition of the indepen- dence of Ukraine. “Ukraine is an independent country, and we will hold this premise sacred,” he said. He added that Russia “does not lay claim on any part of Ukraine or on any of its cities.” The two leaders signed three documents in all at the Mariinsky Palace in Kyiv on May 31: the big treaty called the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership, a statement on the Black Sea Fleet and an agreement of cooperation in the development of a common space industry. The bilateral treaty, which has a life of 10 years but is automatically extended unless either side calls for its Efrem Lukatsky cancellation, is a far-reaching document that addresses Presidents Boris Yeltsin and Leonid Kuchma at the May 31 signing of the Treaty on Cooperation, (Continued on page 4) Friendship and Partnership. UNA suspends dividend N ATO initials preliminary agreement with Ukraine by Roman Woronowycz regularly participates in NATO joint mili- dance with the charter Ukraine and NATO due to costs of mergers Kyiv Press Bureau tary exercises and is being encouraged to will hold consultations at least twice a year develop NATO-like military standards. JERSEY CITY, N.J. — The within the framework of a commission KYIV — Ukraine and NATO Secretary Volodymyr Horbulin of Ukrainian National Association comprising representatives of NATO and achieved a preliminary agreement on a Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Executive Committee, in a statement U k r a i n e . special partnership charter on May 29 at Council said at a press conference on released here on May 29, announced that Anton Buteiko, Ukraine’s vice minis- a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in May 30 that the charter also incorporates no dividend would be paid to members ter for foreign affairs who was in Sintra Sintra, Portugal. Ukrainian officials assurances that the leaders of the nuclear in 1997 due to the costs of mergers believe the pact will keep the country out for the initialization of the agreement, powers gave Ukraine in the Budapest said Ukraine received most of what it involving two other Ukrainian fraternal of a military gray zone as a buffer Memorandum signed by the U.S., the organizations. between the rest of Europe and Russia. was looking for. “I must say that nearly United Kingdom, France, Russia and all of Ukraine’s positions are reflected in The decision was made during the Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister China in December 1994, which provide March 3 meeting of the UNA Executive Hennadii Udovenko, who initialed the the final document,” he pointed out. for the territorial integrity, sovereignty The document is a political paper Committee. agreement along with NATO Secretary- and inviolability of Ukraine’s borders. Following is the full text of the General Javier Solana, was quoted by the Mr. Horbulin explained that in accor- (Continued on page 15) Executive Committee’s announcement. Associated Press as commenting, “This is a very important day for Ukraine.” All 16 Announcement NATO foreign ministers were present at To all branch officers and members of the ceremony, including U.S. Secretary of Romania, Ukraine settle territorial disputes State Madeleine Albright. the UNA: by Roman Woronowycz which lives according to the principles of The charter will give Ukraine a pres- Each year in May the UNA sends its Kyiv Press Bureau respect for existing borders and territorial ence in NATO although not full member- members dividend checks. Payment of i n t e g r i t y . ” ship. Ukraine will have expanded military KYIV — Concluding a month of vigor- dividends for this year is suspended. We Interfax-Ukraine reported that President relations with NATO Headquarters ous diplomatic activity, Ukraine signed a hereby inform you that this year there are Constantinescu emphasized that the only through a military liaison mission, and it general treaty with Romania on June 2, changes that in the future will bring great way toward Europe is “that of common will have the right to consult with the which finally settles territorial disputes over benefits for our members and our organi- sense and the elimination of interstate con- alliance on perceived military threats. the Serpents (Zmiinyi) Island and the zation. f l i c t s . ” Ukraine has had limited military rela- Bukovyna region along the southwestern Since the beginning of 1996, negotia- Ukraine and Romania had been negotiat- tions with the North Atlantic alliance by border of Ukraine. The settlement of tions have been ongoing about a merger of ing a broad treaty of friendship and cooper- way of the Partnership for Peace program decades-old disputes should help both the UNA with two other Ukrainian frater- ation for several years, but disagreement nal insurance companies, that is, the that NATO has promoted for all former countries move still closer to NATO. countries of the Warsaw Pact and republics Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma over ownership of the Serpents Island and Ukrainian National Aid Association of more importantly the oil and gas reserves of the Soviet Union. Ukraine has actively said after the signing of the document with America and the Ukrainian Fraternal that are thought to lie beneath them, as well Association. The Ukrainian National Aid participated in the PFP; today Ukraine has a Romania’s President Emil Constantinescu representation both at NATO headquarters in Constanta, Romania, that it “paves for as the northern border of Romania with (Continued on page 18) and the central command post in Brussels, the two countries a joint way to Europe, (Continued on page 16) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 8, 1997 No. 23 Russia, NATO and Ukraine: a united, or disunited Europe? Budget to pass by month’s end to keep several bomber aircraft it was by Volodymyr Zviglyanich After that meeting, the Russian president intending to sell to the Russian Federation. issued a secret memo in which he stated KYIV — Verkhovna Rada Budget PART I Col. Gen. Kuzmuk said Ukraine had that under no circumstances would Russia Committee Chairman Mykola Azarov pre- planned to sell to Russia 25 Tupolev Tu- For 50 years NATO has been a simple recognize NATO expansion. dicted on June 3 that the five-month over- 160 and Tu-95MS bombers as agreed upon club, with simple rules: mutual Western A new embarrassment for Mr. Yeltsin due 1997 budget would be passed by the two years ago, but he added that the two defense against a threat from the East – came when President Bill Clinton end of this month. “I predict that we will countries have been unable to settle on a the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact. declared that according to U.S. national pass the budget around the last week of price for the aircraft. Russian Vice Prime But the terms of the security partnership security policy the question is not whether June. Once we get the final draft, deputies Minister Valerii Serov said Russia might struck between NATO and Russia recent- NATO would expand, but when and how will require about two weeks to give it a decide against purchasing the aircraft ly mean that the old club’s simple mission NATO would expand. Russia’s reaction second (final) reading,” said Mr. Azarov. because it has no funds for repairs. Col. and ways of doing business have at least was rather muted. It delayed its accession The International Monetary Fund is wait- Gen. Kuzmuk neither confirmed nor changed or perhaps no longer apply. to the Partnership for Peace program in an ing to extend a $2.5 billion to $3 billion denied that Russia has backed out of the Now the old adversary is considered to obvious attempt to bargain with the West. long-term credit once Ukraine passes the sale. He said only that “the question has budget and a package of tax reform laws to be an emerging democracy and has a voice Then it proposed different versions of a been suspended” and “it is unclear when it underpin it. Verkhovna Rada Chairman – though not a veto – in alliance affairs. new European security system via struc- will be settled.” (RFE/RL Newsline) Soon NATO meetings will be bigger, as tures of the Organization for Security and Oleksander Moroz told national deputies the West will likely offer NATO member- Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) where the government would hand the draft over Daewoo finishes phone exchange plant ship to some Eastern European countries.

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