Press Release (97)130 24 Oct. 1997

NATO's Political Committee will visit Ukraine on 27-28 October 1997 At the invitation of the Ukrainian Government, the members of the Political Committee of NATO will pay a two-day working visit to Kyiv on 27-28 October 1997. This visit, the first by the Political Committee to Ukraine, is taking place in the spirit of the Charter on a Distinctive Partnership between NATO and Ukraine which was signed by President Kuchma, Secretary General Solana and NATO Heads of State and Government in Madrid last July. The visit is part of the work plan for implementation of the NATO-Ukraine Charter as approved by the NATO-Ukraine Commission earlier this month. A main underlying aspect is the belief of the NATO Allies that an independent, democratic and stable Ukraine is one of the key factors for ensuring stability in Central and Eastern Europe and the Continent as a whole. The main purpose of the visit will be to deepen NATO's understanding of developments in Ukraine, in particular: attitudes in Ukraine, both official and non-governmental, to the country's security situation and security policy including, of course, cooperation with NATO; and what practical opportunities exist to implement the extensive cooperation to which the NATO and Ukrainian Governments have agreed in the Charter, and how any obstacles to doing this might be overcome. During the working visit, the members of the Political Committee will meet with officials from the various branches of the Ukrainian Government involved with the implementation of the NATO-Ukraine Charter. They will also meet with the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committees of the Verkhovna Rada. These meetings will provide a valuable opportunity for NATO members and Ukrainian officials to exchange views on the further development of NATO-Ukraine relations. The Committee will also visit the NATO Information and Documentation Center which Foreign Minister Udovenko and Secretary General Solana inaugurated in May. There, the members of the Committee will meet the students of the Taras Shevchenko University, where the Center is located.