10 Feb 2007
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko met NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer on the margins of a major international security conference in Munich, Germany, on 10 February. They both stressed the need to continue practical NATO-Ukraine cooperation, despite current uncertainties in Ukraine's domestic political situation.
The President highlighted in particular the importance of a 12-year NATO/Partnership for Peace Trust Fund project, which is assisting Ukraine in the safe disposal of its excess stockpiles of ammunition, small and light weapons, and mobile air-defence missiles systems. He also pointed to Ukraine's ongoing preparations to actively support NATO's maritime counter-terrorist operation in the Mediterranean, Operation Active Endeavour.
Emphasising that integration with Euro-Atlantic organizations remains Ukraine's strategic objective, President Yushchenko acknowledged the need for agreement to be reached among Ukraine's leading political parties on the future pace of NATO-Ukraine relations. He said that the Ukrainian state budget for 2007 had earmarked five million hryvni (approximately US$1 million) for the development of impartial public awareness campaigns about NATO and its relationship with Ukraine.
July 2007 will mark the tenth anniversary of the signing of the NATO-Ukraine Charter on a Distinctive Partnership. President Yushchenko confirmed his invitation to the Secretary General and the North Atlantic Council to Kyiv to celebrate.
