Leonid

Kuchma

President of Ukraine

Speech made to the Assembly

Tuesday, 23 April 1996

All speechesQuestions and answers

Mr Leonid Danilovich KUCHMA expressed his sincere thanks for the opportunity to speak to the Assembly. He was grateful to those who had supported Ukraine’s accession to the Council of Europe, which was an expression of confidence in the Ukrainian people and their leaders in the process of reform.

Ukraine bore responsibility for transforming a totalitarian society into a democratic one. He was aware that Ukraine was one of the last countries to throw off communism and in the five years of progress towards democracy there had been a political struggle between democratic elements and remnants of totalitarian forces.

Ukraine had not yet adopted a new constitution, but he assured the Assembly that he would do all he could in this regard. When the Constitutional Council had drafted a final version of the constitution it would be discussed in parliament. All Ukrainians would then have the chance to decide in a referendum whether to adopt it. If they decided to do so, it would represent the culmination of efforts to create a constitutional Ukraine, which had begun in 1710.

The process of economic reform was now yielding results. The commitment to market principles was producing economic stability and GDP was declining more slowly than in the past. The rate of privatisation had increased, wages had risen in 1995 and higher industrial and agricultural output was expected. The government followed rigid credit and monetary policies. Although there was still far to go, real progress was being achieved.

He was pleased with the assistance that European and world organisations, such as the Council of Europe, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Monetary Fund, had offered his country.

The legislative framework was being brought up to European standards. It was essential to fulfil Ukraine’s obligations to the Council of Europe. Certain parts of the population did not agree with policies necessary to fulfil international agreements, for example the abolition of the death penalty. However, the Ukrainian Government recognised that these had to be met. Ukraine was grateful for the Council of Europe’s assistance in the facilitation of democratic and economic reform. It was determined to maintain close involvement with the Council’s work.

There was concern in Ukraine about the increasing numbers of those returning to the country who had been deported during the years of communism. This was causing both political and economic problems.

Ukraine sought closer relations with both Europe and the wider world. An important development had been the signing of the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement in 1994. It sought a free trade agreement with the European Union, which it also hoped to join in due course. Good relations had developed with the North Atlantic Assembly, Western European Union and Nato. Ukraine was in favour of a gradual and open-ended expansion of Nato membership, which ought to take a closer interest in the security of neutral countries.

Ukraine was keen to resolve the pressures for Crimean separatism, which were highly damaging. The autonomy of the region was guaranteed in the constitution.

He was convinced that no one in Europe was interested in seeing Ukrainian separatism set an example to other countries. Ukraine was in favour of civic peace. The situation in Europe did not give grounds for self-satisfaction and there were problems to be solved. The future of European security should be based on the indivisibility of security and should be comprehensive. International organisations such as the United Nations, Nato and WEU were capable of solving many existing international security problems. The Council of Europe had also done much to help in the field of security. Ukraine was developing bilateral relations with its neighbours. Ukraine had no territorial claims on any other country and would resist territorial claims. Its relations with its northern neighbour were based on the principle of non-interference.

Ukraine was co-operating with several international ventures, such as the Black Sea initiative. The economic and ecological dimensions of security were also important. In particular, Chernobyl was an international problem and it was unthinkable that it be resolved without international co-operation. The attention paid to Chernobyl at the G7 summit was welcome. Ukraine wanted to co-operate in these international efforts. The main prerequisite for democracy in Ukraine was an independent Ukraine based on a civil society, a market economy, and the rule of law. Within the next few years they would have taken further strides towards democracy. Ukraine was making an effort to build a united and prosperous Europe.