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Experts agree: efficient and non-corrupt power is the major factor of Ukraine's security
 The main idea supported by all the participants and experts was that the major factor of Ukraine's security is efficient and non-corrupt power. At the same time prospects for Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine and its “non-bloc” status generated serious disagreement. Leader of the "Front of Change" political party Arseniy YATSENYUK suggested considering national security in a broader context – from the point of view of personal security of citizens. "I believe that security must be regarded as a broader concept - we should address the security of particular person and not dwell on the issues of Ukraine-NATO", - he said. YATSENYUK has also criticized the current government's idea of the non-bloc status of Ukraine. "On the non-bloc status - it looks somewhat amorphous, weird. We misunderstand the concept of "alliance", as it is not identical to the term "military bloc". Valeriy CHALY, Deputy Director General of the Razumkov Center, also has criticized intentions to obtain non-bloc status for Ukraine: “Non-alignment is a return to the past century”. V. Chaly reminded to the audience that when the Constitution of Ukraine was prepared, a specific article that suggested consolidation of non-alignment status was discussed. But the political elite refused that suggestion then. V. Chaly also referred to the current foreign-policy dialogue of the Ukrainian government as “contacts imbalance”, as much more meetings are taking place with the Russian leadership than with all other countries together. Irina KOBRINSKAYA, Leading Research Fellow of the Institute of World Economy and International Relations, Russian Academy of Sciences, expressed concern over ongoing discussion about military blocs, which exists in international policy discourse. "If we keep on talking about blocs, - no country can expect security", - she said. According to KOBRINSKAYA, the world is united by three common trends in security sphere: “There are 3 “Cs” we all have in common: “crisis”, “China” and “climate”. In her view the West needs cooperation with Russia to solve key security issues. On the other hand, the expert noted, wider Russia's integration into Euro-Atlantic space makes Moscow's policy more clear and predictable. Olexandr CHALY, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine, called upon those present to support the non-alignment idea: "It is good that Ukraine started to seek its status. Non-bloc status should be strengthened not as tactical, but as a strategic choice. Thus, foreign policy should be oriented towards the new status, and we should not modify it in a few years and work out something new. We must move in the chosen direction". The diplomat noted that the bloc policy loses its global positions. “We will not recognize NATO in five years"- he said. According to Olexandr CHALY, Ukraine has a unique role to play. «Ukraine has announced its new approach to the foreign policy at the right time. The problem is that this approach should be more consistent, more focused on the new status, and not just on policy principles, "- the Ambassador concluded. Slawomir D*BSKI, Director of the Polish Institute of International Relations, expressed the opposite opinion: "Why do countries want to integrate? First, integration allows modernization of the country, catching up with the most developed countries. Second, during the last 20 years the wars have touched only the periphery, such as the Balkans, but not EU or NATO member states ". He also noted that NATO’s role remains very important, as currently this is the only institutional link between the EU and the US. "We are interested whether the meaning of the Article 5 of the Washington Treaty will change in the process of a new Strategic Concept development, and how NATO will be able to respond to modern threats", - D?BSKI summed up. Sergiy DZHERDZH, Chairman of the Civic League NATO – Ukraine, agreed that during the next five years NATO will transform immensely. "In five years we will not recognize NATO. But it is important for us to recognize Ukraine with its current cultural, economic, and security policies", - he said. At the same time, DZHERDZH criticized aspirations of the Ukrainian authorities to pursue only European integration, excluding Euro-Atlantic. "European framework is integral, and is based on two pillars - NATO and the EU. So, it is impossible to develop friendship with one part and not to be friends with another. We can not have good relations on even days with, let’s say, France, Germany, with their leaders, and on odd days - not to communicate with them, because they are already NATO members and the leaders of those countries define NATO policy " - the expert said. Pavlo KLIMKIN, Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine, called upon those present to unite efforts in development of Ukraine’s security strategy: "The world is changing; consequently the concept of security is changing too... Therefore, we must be prepared to face new challenges in security sphere. What is important for Ukraine now? It is important to understand the trends around us and to ensure the indivisibility of security. These are the main factors. Moreover, we must recognize that security is based on the notion of solidarity - we have to determine priorities and partners to work with”. Mitat ÇELIKPALA, Associate Professor of the TOBB University of Economics and Technology (Turkey), while discussing the security issues of the Black Sea region security, noted that the region had not yet established itself in its borders. "The main strategic puzzle of the Black Sea region is that the major players are not only littoral states, but also countries outside this space. That is why the Black Sea region has not yet formed completely”. In his opinion, competition prevails over cooperation in the Black Sea region due to existing strategic interests of key, but outside-of-the-region, states. Richard YOUNGS, Director General of FRIDE Institute (Spain) noted that the economic crisis has affected significantly the EU's ability to implement active foreign policy. "The EU is not only stuck in solving internal problems, but also reduced programs of cooperation with its neighbours. And Ukraine is to definitely feel it", - he said. Andriy FIALKO, Foreign Policy Advisor to the President of Ukraine, summing up the discussion suggested that the main threats to security of Ukraine are of internal origin: "Ukraine’s security threats originate from within – from inefficient and corrupt authorities. If this situation does not change, then no security system will help us". He also appealed to the audience to give time to the new Ukrainian government to formulate its position and defend it. The Roundtable "Whose Security Concerns?" serves as a link between the 2009 International Conference "World in Crisis: Security Implications and Challenges for Wider Europe" and the 4th Kyiv Security Forum (KSF), which will be held by Open Ukraine Foundation on November 11-12, 2010 in Kyiv. An analytical summary paper will be prepared on the basis of the discussions held, and it will consequently serve as a basis for the discussions at the Fourth KSF. The Forum-2010 will address the future of collective security and national resilience in Europe. The Roundtable was organized by Arseniy Yatsenyuk Open Ukraine Foundation with the support of the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation, a project of the German Marshall Fund. Media contact: Ruslan Kyrylenko, tel.: 235-52-98, rk@openukraine.org. |
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