Press Release (97)156 16 Dec. 1997

Press Statement NATO-Ukraine Commission Meeting at Foreign Ministers Level held at NATO Headquarters, Brussels on 16 December 1997 The NATO-Ukraine Commission, established in accordance with the Charter on a Distinctive Partnership between NATO and Ukraine signed on 9 July 1997 in Madrid, met today for the first time at the Ministerial level. The Ukrainian and NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Civil Emergency Planning and Disaster preparedness between NATO and Ukraine. Ministers also held political consultations on the development of security and stability in Europe and on the role of the distinctive NATO-Ukraine Partnership in this regard. Ministers agreed that NATO and Ukraine, together, have a unique opportunity to help shape the future of Euro-Atlantic security. They reviewed the progress made in the implementation of the Charter in 1997 and approved a substantial Work Plan for 1998, which defines initial priority areas for consultation and cooperation. It builds upon the achievements of the 1997 Work Plan and represents a steady deepening of the NATO-Ukraine partnership. A number of high-level visits has taken place, such as the first ever visit by the Political Committee of NATO to Kyiv, where it established a fruitful dialogue with the State Interagency Commission of Ukraine on Cooperation with NATO. Ukraine was one of the first Partners to open a Mission at NATO Headquarters and a military representation as a part of the Mission. The NATO Documentation and Information Centre in Kyiv - in operation since last May - has played a key role in enhancing information efforts in Ukraine. Ministers agreed that Ukraine's participation in Partnership for Peace should be a practical tool to improve interoperability with NATO forces and contribute to the ongoing Ukrainian defence reform. NATO and Ukraine will also expand their political consultations and enhance their cooperation in PfP, with particular emphasis on peacekeeping. A prominent element of the 1998 Work Plan, underlining the distinctive character of the NATO-Ukraine Partnership, will be the Joint Working Group on Defence Reform; it will focus on civil-military relations, resource planning and management, officer and NCO professional development. NATO and Ukraine agreed to continue to seek the full implementation of the NATO-Ukraine Charter. Ministers welcomed the development of intensive and pragmatic consultations between Ukraine and NATO to this end. NATO Ministers took note of the suggestion by the Foreign Minister of Ukraine to develop armaments cooperation with Ukraine. The NATO - Ukraine Commission will meet again at the level of Foreign Ministers in the Spring of 1998.