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| Updated: 21-May-2003 | NATO Press Releases |
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Press Release (2003) 050 21 May 2003 |
Meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission in Ambassadorial Session The NATO-Ukraine Commission met in Ambassadorial session at NATO Headquarters on May 21, 2003, to discuss progress made in the implementation of the NATO-Ukraine Action Plan and Annual Target Plan for 2003 in preparation for the NUC Foreign and Defence Ministerials in June. The Commission also had an extensive exchange of views on the situation in Moldova. Ambassadors welcomed the positive development of NATO-Ukraine Distinctive Partnership at a qualitatively new level since the last meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission in Prague. Members of the Commission reiterated that NATO and Ukraine share common values and common political goals for stability in the Euro-Atlantic area. In this context, Allied Ambassadors called upon Ukraine to continue to develop its internal legislation in conformity with universal principles of democracy and international law as part of its foreign policy orientation towards full Euro-Atlantic integration, including its stated long-term goal of NATO membership. Members of the Commission also welcomed the recent intensification of NATO-Ukraine political consultations with the participation of senior Ukrainian Foreign Ministry and Defence Ministry officials, as well as the deepening of the parliamentary dimension of NATO-Ukraine cooperation. NATO Ambassadors welcomed the Ukrainian Ambassador’s statement that this new level of engagement has been reflected by the 19 May decision of the State Council on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine to intensify the implementation of the Action Plan and Annual Target Plan for 2003, and by the launching of the National Center for Euro-Atlantic Integration. They also noted the Ukrainian Ambassador’s report on Ukrainian efforts to further economic and democratic reform, to combat money laundering, terrorism, organized crime and corruption, and to create a comprehensive system of supervision, monitoring and coordination of Ukraine’s cooperation with the Alliance. Allied Ambassadors noted that these efforts contribute to the strengthening of NATO-Ukraine Distinctive Partnership, and are important to Ukraine’s pursuit of its aspirations towards full integration into Euro-Atlantic security structures. The Commission also underlined the high level of engagement and cooperation between Ukraine and NATO in the area of defence reform. Ambassadors highlighted the importance of Defence Review as an important first step in the defence reform process in Ukraine. Allies reaffirmed NATO’s commitment to support Ukraine in its efforts to develop adequate defence capabilities to meet its national security concerns in the context of the Euro-Atlantic integration policy of Ukraine. During the discussion on Moldova, the Ukrainian Ambassador briefed the Commission on the role that Ukraine has been playing in the ongoing pentalateral negotiations to find a political settlement to the Transdniestrian issue. He also provided an update on Ukraine's efforts aimed at strengthening control over the Transdniestrian segment of the Ukraine-Moldovan state border. Allied Ambassadors welcomed Ukraine's contribution to the resolution of the Transdniestrian issue and encouraged Ukraine to maintain its high level of engagement. The Ukrainian Ambassador noted positively the signing of Protocols of Accession at the special meeting of the North Atlantic Council with the seven countries invited to join the Alliance on 26 March 2003 at NATO Headquarters. Allies welcomed the statement by the Ukrainian Ambassador that the on-going process of NATO enlargement and NATO’s open-door policy represented an important element contributing to the security of all states of Euro-Atlantic area, including the national security of Ukraine. |
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