The Future of United Europe and Ukraine Remarks by Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Borys Tarasyuk at the University of Leiden (Leiden, 8 March 2006)
Dear professors and students, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am honored to speak at this distinguished University, renowned worldwide as the Praesidium Libertatis [1] of European academic culture. Undoubtedly, the liberal atmosphere that was created here already at the end of the 16th century became the conceptual cornerstone of what we know now as European mentality and identity. Spinoza, Descartes, and many other great academics that made Leiden so famous took their significant part in this liberal intellectual process. My colleague and a good friend of mine, Foreign Minister Dr. Bernard Bot, whom I am meeting later this day, graduated from this University. I am sure that the high level of his personal professionalism and knowledge reflect his Leiden experience. I am delighted to communicate with the present-day Leiden intellectuals, who will undeniably play a definitive role in the future of Europe, taking the place of today’s decision makers in European institutions and their member-states. Here I would like to make our communication less formal and more interactive. That is why, I would dare to change the traditional scheme of presentations, made by visiting officials. Let me start by questions.
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Which country is the biggest European country in terms of territory? Which European country is number one contributor to UN peacekeeping operations? Which European country has the largest heavy lift transport aviation? Which European country has got rid of the third largest nuclear arsenal in the world?
You know the answer. It is Ukraine. Now this country is aspiring to reunite with the rest of Europe in a common European home – the United Europe. Ukrainians have already made an irrevocable European choice. After the centuries under imperial and Soviet oppression, the years of transitional quasi-democratic post-Soviet regime, the citizens of Ukraine clearly demonstrated their desire to live in accordance with European values. The main evidence of this intention was presented at the Orange revolution. Then, Ukrainians, just as many other Europeans in respective historical moments, rose to defend their right for democracy and their civic dignity. Ukrainians realized that the question regarding the future of Europe concerns them directly, and they belong to the ones who are to find proper answers. The latest decades proved that the role of the main locomotive of European integration belongs to the European Union. We believe that integration to the EU ought to be open for all the willing European states, which share common European values, history and culture. Guided by this conviction and the idea of United Europe, Ukraine, revived by the Orange revolution, originated qualitatively new internal and foreign policy, based on European democratic principles. These principles laid the foundation for the state’s strategy on the main interrelated directions – Ukraine’s movement to membership in the institutions of democratic nations – the EU and NATO, and the process of approaching Europe’s eastern part to European and Euro-Atlantic standards. We realize all the difficulties, faced by the EU after its latest enlargement and rapid development. However, the ongoing dialogue with European and Transatlantic institutions makes us optimistic regarding the prospects of Ukraine as well as of United Europe in general. This dialogue is not easy, which was demonstrated by the recent ministerial meeting between Ukraine and EU Troika, but it shows the gradual progress that is to strengthen the institutional ties of European integration. Meanwhile, doing all the necessary work to approach desired membership, we pay a special attention to our region, which is an integral part of European socio-cultural area. Encouraging deeper cooperation with our Western partners, we have developed a promising format of interaction, known as Weimar Arch, involving France, Germany, Poland and Ukraine. Strengthening ties between Baltic, Black See and Caspian countries, President Yushchenko initiated a process, called the Community of Democratic Choice, aimed at further promoting democratic principles in the area. Our particular attention is devoted to GUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova).
In 2005, Ukraine has already become a leading light for the states of Eastern Europe that are striving for higher democratic standards. We have no doubts, that the forthcoming parliamentary elections in Ukraine (that will be held at the end of this month) will prove the irrevocability of democratization in our part of the continent. Strengthening democracy and regional consolidation on the basis of sharing European values enables us to ensure stability in Eastern Europe, in particular by successful settlement of existing unresolved conflicts. We believe, that Ukrainian initiatives on Transdnistrian settlement, known as Yushchenko Plan, present the optimal model for peaceful resolution of separatism problem in Europe. The main principle of this plan – to stability through democracy – may be applied to other similar conflict cases, including Kosovo and South Caucasus conflicts. Adherence to democratic principles and the values of European and Euro-Atlantic community should ensure proper economic development in Eastern Europe. The economic importance of the region is, first of all, connected with the ongoing processes in energy sphere. We believe that Ukraine and her regional partners are able to make their significant contribution into European energy security. At the moment, we are actively working on this direction. Hence, ensuring democracy, stability, and economic growth in Eastern Europe, will stimulate harmonization of eastern and western parts of European continent, thus, advancing to building United Europe. At the same time, it is quite obvious that this idea is doomed to failure if all European nations do not take equally active part in all-European cooperation on the three directions: strengthening democracy and the rule of law; securing peace and stability; and fostering economic development throughout Europe. For me, it is important to deliver these messages to this audience in particular. In ten years, the present-day students of this University will be among those, who are to direct political, social, and cultural life of Europe. We reckon on your involvement into intensive dialogue with Ukrainian intellectuals on the key issues of Europe’s life. We believe that such an interaction is to play its significant role within the process of transforming the whole Europe into the land of peace, prosperity, mutual respect and tolerance - in other words, into the commonwealth with a promising future. I thank you. ****
(1) Praesidium Libertatis – Bastion of Liberty(the motto of the University of Leiden). Accordingly to the history of the University of Leiden, it was the first university in the Netherlands where freedom of belief and religion was practiced.