Joint statement

Meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission
at the level of Foreign Ministers
held in Brussels on Friday, 7 December 2007

1. Foreign Ministers of the NATO-Ukraine Commission, meeting today in Brussels, underscored the importance of the NATO-Ukraine Distinctive Partnership for security and stability throughout the Euro-Atlantic area and in this context recalled the tenth anniversary of the Charter on a Distinctive Partnership. They took stock of the progress achieved in NATO-Ukraine cooperation since their last meeting. Ministers also discussed the foreign and security policy priorities of Ukraine and the prospects for the development of the NATO-Ukraine relationship, including the NATO-Ukraine Action Plan and the Intensified Dialogue on Ukraine’s aspirations to NATO membership and relevant reforms, without prejudice to any eventual Alliance decision.
2. Welcoming Acting Foreign Minister Khandogiy’s statement on recent developments in Ukraine, Allied Ministers noted with satisfaction Ukraine’s democratic reforms and expressed confidence in their continuation. They welcomed the conduct of free and fair parliamentary elections to the Verkhovna Rada in September 2007 and the formation of a governing coalition. Ministers looked forward to the timely formation of a government in Ukraine.
3. Re-affirming their commitment to the success of NATO's operations and missions, Ministers welcomed their ongoing operational cooperation in the context of Operation Active Endeavour, including the deployment of a second Ukrainian vessel, the corvette Lutsk; ISAF, including through Ukraine’s contribution to PRT efforts; KFOR; as well as in NATO Training Mission Iraq. Allied Ministers expressed appreciation for Ukraine’s active support for all NATO-led operations and missions. They noted with satisfaction and further encouraged Ukraine’s contributions to security in its region and beyond. Ministers noted the Work Plan of the Military Committee with Ukraine for the year 2008.
4. Ministers reviewed the progress that had been made throughout 2007 in reforming Ukraine’s defence and security sectors, including in the framework of the NATO-Ukraine Joint Working Group on Defence Reform (JWGDR). In this context, they welcomed in particular Ukraine’s progress in implementing a comprehensive review of its security sector. Allied Ministers also encouraged Ukraine to continue to implement effective reforms in its defence and security institutions. Ministers noted the progress made in the framework of the NATO/PfP Trust Fund projects for the destruction of small arms, light weapons and man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS) and for the retraining and resettlement of released military personnel, and encouraged their continued successful implementation.
5. Ministers noted Ukraine’s reaffirmation of its strategic course of Euro-Atlantic integration aimed at achieving full membership in the Alliance. Ukraine’s Acting Foreign Minister emphasised that continued support for Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations would be appreciated. In this regard, Allied Ministers welcomed Ukraine’s reconfirmation of its determination to follow through on relevant reforms.
6. Recalling the Riga Summit Declaration, Allied Ministers reiterated that NATO’s door remains open to European democracies willing and able to assume the responsibilities of membership, in accordance with Article 10 of the Washington Treaty. Ministers stressed the fruitful cooperation in the Intensified Dialogue and underscored that further stages toward achieving Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic integration goals would depend primarily upon concrete, measurable progress in the implementation of key reforms and policies.
7. Ministers looked forward to the prompt adoption of an ambitious NATO-Ukraine Annual Target Plan for 2008, and its timely and determined implementation. They underlined the importance of informing the Ukrainian people about NATO-Ukraine cooperation. Ministers agreed to keep Ukraine’s progress under review. Allied Ministers re-affirmed their continued readiness to assist Ukraine in the implementation of its reform goals, in particular in the fields of defence and security sector reform.
8. Ministers looked forward to holding a summit meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission in April 2008 in Bucharest. 

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