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| Updated: 20-Oct-2005 | NATO Press Releases |
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Press Release (2005)132 20 Oct. 2005 |
Joint Press Statement NATO-Ukraine Commission Meeting Kyiv, 19 October 2005 At the April 2005 meeting of NATO-Ukraine Commission Foreign Ministers, NATO and Ukraine launched an Intensified Dialogue on Ukraine ’s aspirations to NATO membership and relevant reforms, without prejudice to any eventual Alliance decision. Today in Kyiv, the NATO-Ukraine Commission held its first meeting in the framework of this Intensified Dialogue. NATO Ambassadors were welcomed by Foreign Minister Borys Tarasyuk and Defence Minister Anatoliy Grytsenko, who participated in the meeting on behalf of Ukraine . Members of the Commission discussed Ukrainian efforts to implement reforms required of European democracies interested in pursuing Alliance membership. They noted withsatisfaction that a fruitful first round of expert consultations in the framework of the Intensified Dialogue was held in September between high-level Ukrainian officials and NATO International Staff, and indicated they will remain engaged as this process continues. Foreign Minister Tarasyuk briefed Allies on internal political developments in Ukraine and priority issues of Ukraine 's foreign policy, including the enhancement of regional security. He reaffirmed Ukraine 's interest in NATO membership, and its desire to join the Membership Action Plan. In this connection, he also outlined Ukraine 's ongoing efforts to ensure economic growth, the further democratisation of governmental institutions, including in the defence and security sectors, the enhancement of the rule of law, including through judicial reform, the conduct of free and fair elections, and the continued fight against corruption. He reconfirmed Ukraine 's commitment to implement these and all other aspects of the Ukraine-NATO Action Plan. Defence Minister Grytsenko informed the NUC about progress to date and future plans in the area of defence reform. He underlined that the MOD will continue to reform the Armed Forces of Ukraine to bring them closer to Euro-Atlantic standards, especially by developing interoperability with Allied forces as a basis for active participation in, and support of, NATO-led operations. The Minister looked forward to further discussions of Ukraine 's defence and security sector reform plans with Allies at the NATO-UkraineHigh-Level Consultations in Vilnius on 23-24 October. Allied Ambassadors reaffirmed NATO's open-door policy, while underscoring that NATO remains a performance-based organisation founded on shared values. They reiterated their commitment to the Intensified Dialogue, with a view to further supporting the achievement of Ukraine 's reform objectives and her Euro-Atlantic integration aspirations. They welcomed the reform efforts of the Ukrainian leadership and encouraged Ukraine to fully utilise the Intensified Dialogue process to advance reforms. In this vein, they underscored that concrete progress in the key reform and policy areas discussed with Ministers Tarasyuk and Grytsenko would be the prerequisite and ultimate measure against which Ukraine ’s aspirations to NATO membership would be considered. They looked forward to reviewing Ukraine 's implementation of the NATO-Ukraine Action Plan at the NUC Ministerial session in December. NATO Ambassadors thanked Ukraine for its warm hospitality. They welcomed the further discussions they would have of NATO-Ukraine cooperation with both the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine and the Verkhovna Rada, as well as the opportunity to engage the Ukrainian people directly through seminars and information activities in Donetsk, Kharkiv and Odessa. |
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