Archives: Новини

On February, 13th the IWP held a Media Club with the special envoy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic on the Eastern Partnership issues
Peter MareshDuring the meeting Ukrainian journalists and experts discussed with the Czech diplomat a number of issues that have a crucial impact on the future of the Ukraine-EU relation.
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The Media Club was organized within the framework of the IWP project “New European Policy” supported by the “Ukraine National Initiatives to Enhance Reforms” (UNITER) project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by Pact.

On January 28th the Institute of World Policy held a video conference “Euromaidan: what can the U.S. do?”The event was attended by U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine (1998-2000), senior fellow at the Brookings Institution Steven Pifer, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine (2003-2006) John Herbst, director of the Kennan Institute Matthew Rojansky, and deputy director of the Kennan Institute William Pomeranz.
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The event was organized by the Institute of World Politics in cooperation with the Kennan Institute (Washington, DC ).
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American diplomats and experts unanimously agreed that Ukraine should independently determine its foreign policy and find its own solution to the ongoing political crisis. According to Ambassadors, Mr. Yanukovych has begun to offer concessions can be a sign that he is ready to a make some steps.
At the same time former U.S. Ambassadors to Ukraine Steven Pifer and John Herbst had repeated for Ukrainian experts and journalists fifth main messages what Washington and Brussels should do in order to reach a peaceful settlement and return Ukraine to a democratic path.
First, the US and EU should make clear to Yanukovych that he must refrain from the use of force and must negotiate seriously to find a resolution to the crisis. In particular, he must offer shared control over state security organs with the opposition. He needs to provide concrete assurances that the 2015 presidential election will be free and fair, including that Mr. Klitschko can run and that former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko will be released from prison.
Second, besides the revocation of visas for Ukrainian officials Washington should impose financial sanctions against those close to Mr. Yanukovych and their families.
Third, Ukrainian opposition should leave Yanukovych a way out in order to avoid more bloodshed and the stress on Ukraine’s unity.
Fourth, the EU needs to maintain a high-level team in Kyiv and act as a mediator.
However, American diplomats stressed that Western influence in Ukraine is limited. According to them, the current crisis in Ukraine has internal roots and external actors are not the major players in this crisis.

Institute of World Policy held the 2nd Romanian-Ukrainian civil society forum in Kyiv on January 23-24th.The event is jointly organized by the Romanian Center for European Policies (Romania) and the Institute of World Policy with the support of UNDP.

Forum brought together civil society representatives from Ukraine and Romania striving to strengthen the cooperation between the two countries. This project is part of the process of sharing the Romanian expertise in the field of democratization and development policies with the countries of the EU’s Eastern Neighborhood.

Leading Ukrainian and Romanian experts and diplomats took part in the Forum: Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (2007-2009) Volodymyr Ogryzko, former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Romania (1989-1990) Sergiu Celac, Director of the Romanian Centre for European Policies Cristian Ghinea, senior fellow at the Jamestown Foundation Vladimir Socor, research director of the Institute of Euro-Atlantic Cooperation Oleksandr Sushko, former EU High Level Adviser on customs issues Dorel Fronea, and others.
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The aim of the forum was to support expert networks in channeling independent expertise to decision-makers from Ukraine and Romania. The meeting participants have underlined the need of resetting and recalibrating the Romanian-Ukrainian relations by emphasizing the existing opportunities for bilateral and multilateral cooperation projects. Building a Ukrainian-Romanian partnership based on a constructive dialogue is prevented by inaccurate stereotypes and misperceptions generating distrust and suspicion in bilateral relations. Willing to open and straightforward discussion, civil society representatives have tackled one of the most delicate issue of the bilateral agenda – national minorities situation.
Ukrainian and Romanian experts have paid special attention to the perspectives of Ukraine-Romania relations. Participants have agreed on the need of avoiding the exaggerating of the existing problems. Media stressing on these issues promotes the negative environment for the producing a good-neighborly relations and trans-boundary cooperation between both states. Experts have called for focusing on the non-conflict issues and directives of mutual interest.
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Viktor Shlinchak, Institute for World Policy and Dragos Dinu, Romanian Center for European Policies
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Vladimir Socor, senior fellow, Jamestown Foundation
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Dorel Fronea, former EU High Level Adviser on customs issues, former head of the Romanian Custom Service
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Corneliu Ionescu, Romanian Ambassador to Ukraine
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Sergiu Celac, senior adviser, National Centre for Sustainable Development, former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Romania (1989-1990)
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Ion Stavila, Moldavian Ambassador to Ukraine
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Alyona Getmanchuk, director of the IWP
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Volodymyr Ogryzko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (2007-2009) and Tetyana Kudina, Project Coordinator, UNDP
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Oleksiy Semeniy, “United World” International Foundation and Cristian Ghinea, director of the Romanian Center for European policies
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Lenid Litra, Senior fellow, IWP
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Olga Chubrykova –MFA of Ukraine
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Oleksandr Sushko, research director, Institute of Euro-Atlantic Cooperation
The first edition of the Civic Forum (Bucharest, 24-25 May 2012) was a groundbreaking initiative aiming at boosting bilateral relations between Romania and Ukraine, connecting networks of experts from the two countries, hence attempting to engage the civil society in identifying concrete proposals and areas of cooperation for Bucharest and Kiev.

On January 22nd, U.S. Ambassador Geoffrey R. Pyatt commemorated the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy with representatives of Ukrainian civil society.Institute of World Policy was a co-hosted organizer of the roundtable dedicated to the Martin Luther King. The director of the IWP Alyona Getmanchuk acted as a moderator of the event.
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The participants discussed the Dr. King’s legacy of nonviolence and community engagement within the Ukrainian context. Ambassador Pyatt commented that “On MLK, Jr. Day, Americans honor the life and achievements of Dr. King through national service, volunteering, and public awareness initiatives – the type of civic engagement that many of you in this room support daily through your work”.
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Participants at the meeting included a broad spectrum of media and community-based organizations that support human rights, responsible governance, media freedom and access to information. USA Senators assistants also took part in the roundtable.

The Institute of World Policy organized the final session of the Strategic Discussion Club on December, 16th. The topic of the discussion: “Post-Vilnius: Diagnostics of the National (in) Security”.Leading Ukrainian and foreign experts, diplomats and politicians participated in the discussion: Head of the state of Lithuania (1990-1992), member of the European Parliament Vytautas Landsbergis, Head of the EU Delegation of the EU Jan Tombinski, expert of the Royal Institute of International Affairs James Sherr, Head of the Security Service of Ukraine (2003 – 2005) Igor Smeshko, expert of the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment Tor Bukkvoll, expert of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs Arkady Moshes and others.
Experts agreed that the majority of challenges to the sovereignty and security of Ukraine are of internal nature. In particular, they are institutional weakness and absence of a clear strategy on Ukraine’s development.
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Head of the state of Lithuania (1990-1992), Member of the European Parliament Vytautas Landsbergis
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Head of the EU Delegation of the EU Jan Tombinski and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andriy Olefirov
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First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (2003-2004), State Secretary for European Integration (2001-2003) Oleksandr Chalyi
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Senior Research Fellow, Norwegian Defence Research Establishment Tor Bukkvoll
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Chair of the Supervisory Board of the Institute of World Policy Viktor Shlinchak and expert of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs Arkady Moshes
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Chairman of the Committee of European integration, Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Hryhoriy Nemyria
During the event the IWP also presented the final policy brief on the current security threats to Ukraine and ways to overcome them. The document includes recommendations from the leading Ukrainian and foreign experts.
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Director of the NATO Liaison Office in Ukraine Marcin Koziel
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Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to Ukraine Jon Elvedal Fredriksen
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Professor of the NaUKMA Oleksiy Haran
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Ambassador of Ukraine to Belarus (2010-2011), Deputy Head of the Presidential Secretariat of Ukraine (2007-2008) Roman Bezsmertnyi
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The Strategic Discussion Club is a project of the Institute of World Policy and NATO Liaison Office in Ukraine supported by the Government of Norway. The Strategic Discussion Club aims to create the opportunities to hold informal but substantial public discussions on the strategic matters of the national security of Ukraine on a regular basis.

On November 27th the Institute for World Politics held a discussion with the head of European Parliament delegation on cooperation with Ukraine Pawel Koval.The day before the summit of “Eastern Partnership” in Vilnius European Parliament member arrived in Kyiv to discuss the current situation around the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU, and to visit the EuroMaydan. European Parliament member admitted that on Monday night he felt the need to come to Ukraine and support people, especially students, on the Maidan.
“If people are on the Maidan for three to four days (young, promising people who have not left the country going to the West), we should not close our eyes and pretend that there are nobody there. I was very happy when these people had allowed me to speak at the European Square. Someone needs to arrive to them, especially European politicians, and say that the doors (to the European Union. -Ed.) are open to them. If we do not open them in Vilnius, we will open them a little bit later, “- said Mr. Koval.
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European Parliament member confirmed that there still is a chance to sign an Association Agreement, so politicians and diplomats have to think what else can be done.
“Many people are already talking about a back-up plan”. But today, I, as a politician, would not like to speak of a plan “B”, we have two more days left. Of course, after the statement of Prime Minister Azarov political situation is very complicated. Nobody have expected this statement. But if we look back at the history of Ukraine of the last ten years, we will see that there were many situations when unexpected decisions were made at the last moment, “- said Mr. Koval. European politician also emphasized that currently there are no legal obstacles to sign the agreement in Vilnius.
“Of course, the political situation at the moment is not conducive/favorable for the signing. My message is very simple: Let diplomats and politicians work together until the last second, they must give up. «We will have to think about back-up plan on Monday and Tuesday,» – said the European parliament member.
“I am against strategic pauses. We know what it means in this part of the world strategic pause : it does not a pause – it’s a space in which someone else can enter. This space refers not only to politics, but even the human thought,”- said Mr. Koval and urged not lose optimism regarding the European future of Ukraine.
“I do not want you to consider me naïve man. I know Ukraine. But I believe this is a huge mistake to come now to Ukraine and say that nothing can be achieved or that nothing will come out of Urkaine. I’m going to take part in forming this opinion,”- said Koval.
Director for the energy programs of the Center “Nomos” Michael Honchar said that the European Union also has at its disposal powerful leverages to influence/impact upon Russia. In particular, the EU is the largest consumer of Russian energy resources.
In response, Mr. Koval said that the EU cannot use the same methods as the Russian Federation: “The European Union – it is not a country. We have a different structure and methods, we depend on other factors.”
However, the European Parliament member said that European politicians should think how to compensate “this highly politicized activity of Russia”.
“There are many opportunities. We should concentrate on instruments of the Eastern Partnership, on youth, visa issues. If this signal is tough and clear, it will work in Ukraine and the West,”- said Mr. Koval.
He also appreciated skeptically the idea of creating Tripartite Commission of Ukraine, the EU and Russia. According to Koval, Ukraine’s position in this committee will be the same as the position of the Ukraine SSR in the UN. We could talk about such a commission, said Koval, if Kyiv have already signed an Association Agreement with the EU.
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Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Andriy Olefirov told about active cooperation between Ukraine and NATO at the Ukraine-NATO Forum on November 14th, 2013. The event was organized by the Institute of World Policy with the support of the NATO Information and Documentation Centre in Ukraine.

The text of Mr. Olefirov speech is available only in Ukrainian.

Lithuania’s defense minister (2008-2012) Rasa Jukneviciene praised Ukraine’s contribution to NATO activities on the Ukraine-NATO forum.The event was organized by the Institute of World Policy with the support of the NATO Information and Documentation Centre.

The text of Ms.Jukneviciene speech is available below.

In 2014 we will celebrate the 10th anniversary of Lithuanian membership of NATO, in the most powerful and reliable Alliance in the world. The Alliance is based on common values, first and foremost, democracy, and on self-determination of nations. This is the secret of a strong organisation.

Speaking about the importance of Transatlantic relationship and NATO for almost 65 years now, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Victoria Nuland, referred to NATO two days ago as “a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.”

Membership of NATO as well as membership of the EU is the utmost important pillar of Lithuania’s security and the political guarantee of our statehood and independence. It is impossible to overestimate both. I am underlying – both.

My message from Lithuania to Ukrainians is as follows, if they still hesitate about a European path. Nine years after Lithuania’s accession to the European Union, the majority of Lithuanians believe that membership of the Community is beneficial, which is proved by the recent Eurobarometer survey (the public opinion poll).

“As much as 80 per cent of Lithuanians believe now that Lithuania’s membership in the EU has been and is beneficial, which is the highest rate since 1999, when the respective proportion reached 43 per cent.”

Our membership of NATO is not under discussion and all political parties represented in our parliament are full supporters of Lithuanian activities in NATO.

As a minister of defence, I had a very clear understanding of Ukraine as one of the most reliable partners of NATO. Our joint activities in Afghanistan are an example of that.

Your military people are professional and responsible, and they are ready to act together with partners.

Our cooperation in Afghanistan is on-going and, as I know, we are looking for new forms of cooperation in international operations.

One of the projects I do believe in very much is LITPOLUKRBRIG, which has to be ready for missions in 2015. We also know that Ukraine was among the first NATO partners to appoint forces to the NRF; it is participating in NATO operations Active Endeavour, Ocean Shield and KFOR.

I think the question of professionalism is not a question for Ukraine. I would even say more. The Ukrainian armed forces are ready in terms of Ukraine’s candidacy for NATO membership if will is expressed to that end. Ukraine is a capable contributor and we have to encourage further cooperation.

The most important NATO-UKR and LT-UKR cooperation emphasis should be on education and training. Interoperability starts with simple things, knowledge of English and understanding people, how their work and behave.
However, NATO is, first of all, the Alliance of values. The values that prevail in the international operations where Ukraine is involved should prevail everywhere, in the armed forces and in the country itself.

The rule of law and respect for human rights must be enforced. I believe that with these prevailing principles and practical cooperation between Ukraine and NATO in place and with security and defence sector reforms in Ukraine implemented, a new qualitative level would be reached.

It is very important to work together as partners not only on a practical but on a political level too. The Alliance has left the door open for Ukraine, now it depends on Ukraine’s decision to enter through the door or not. We sincerely hope that whatever the decision you make, it will serve security and stability in Europe and strengthening of the world.

NATO Exercise Steadfast Jazz 2013 ended several days ago. There is much to talk about in the wake of the Exercise (about the extent of the Exercise, the importance of the NATO Rapid Reaction Force, NATO’s capabilities in general, etc.). In this forum, however, it is necessary to emphasize the importance of partners, where Ukraine was the only non-NATO country, participating with combat units (Infantry Amphibious Company, 95 soldiers). We hope that Ukraine will continue cooperating with NATO by contributing to the NATO Response Force and to NATO exercises.

NATO Steadfast Jazz has laid a good foundation for the future CFI. NATO is currently working actively on how exercises should be run in the future. The first big test will be Trident Juncture in 2015. The partners’ role will remain important in the Exercise.

NATO Connected Forces Initiative (CFI) will be of utmost importance in the near future. It will help maintain NATO’s readiness and combat effectiveness through expanded education and training, increased exercises and better use of technology. All future international engagements, standards and operational concepts will be developed in the framework of CFI. Therefore it is essential that Ukraine participates in CFI. I was happy to see Ukraine in Steadfast Jazz and hope this is just the beginning.

The Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius will be crucial in terms of security as well. We are waiting for positive decisions and Ukrainians determination as for the future of their state.

This will complete the democratic map of Europe, while today the situation reminds the one of last minute flights in a travel agency.

But seriously speaking, the decision will be related not only with the future of Ukraine. The decision will be important for the future of Belarus and particularly the future of the Russian Federation. I do think that the European road of Ukraine is important for the future of Russia as it is the only way to have a democratic and predictable Russia in the future.

The Vilnius Summit is about to complete the democratic map of Europe.

The head of supervisory board of the IWP Viktor Shlinchak briefly described the current state of Ukraine-NATO cooperation on the opening of the NATO-Ukraine Forum on November 14th, 2013.The event was organized by the Institute of World Policy with the support of the NATO Information and Documentation Centre in Ukraine.
The text of Mr. Shlinchak speech is available only in Ukrainian.

The Institute of World Politicy with the support of NATO Information and Documentation Centre organized Ukraine-NATO Forum on the 14th of November. The topic of the meeting was “Safety in cooperation: development opportunities”.The main goal of the gathering was to discuss Ukraine-NATO cooperation in the context of non-alignment.
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Famous Ukrainian and foreign security experts participated in the discussion. Former Defense Minister of Poland Janusz Onyshkevych, former Defense Minister of Lithuania Rasa Yuknyavichene and director of the Defence Policy and Strategy Division of Ministry of Defence of Czech Republic Jan Havravek were the honorary guests of the Forum.
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There was a video conference with NATO Headquarter in Brussels. The guests of the Forum had an opportunity to talk with the Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges Jamie Shea.
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