Signals from and expectations of Germany

What does Germany expect from the new President of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych? Can the change of power in Ukraine affect the development of German-Ukrainian relations? Will Yanukovych’s announcement about this country’s likely entry into the customs union with Russia hinder Ukraine’s integration into the EU? This is the subject of an exclusive interview with Dr. Werner Hoyer, Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, who was present at the inauguration ceremony in Kyiv.

“Ukrainians elected a new president in the latest presidential elections which were fair, free, and democratic. Congratulations! Ukraine is a very important partner for Germany as well as for entire Europe. We share a common history, a common culture, and common values. A stable and prosperous Ukrainian state is in the interests of us all.

“Over the past few years, Ukraine has taken essential measures of modernization. At the same time, this country is still grappling with the consequences of a financial and economic crisis. For this reason, Ukraine still faces a dire necessity to go further down the path of domestic reforms. Germany and Europe are ready to support Ukraine as much as they can if the Kyiv leadership is determined to press for reforms.”

Did Yanukovych assure you that such gains of the Orange Revolution as freedom of speech, the press and assembly would remain intact?

“Let me remind you that President Yanukovych spoke out in favor of close cooperation with the European Union immediately after being elected and said he cherished European values. He will pay his first foreign visit to Brussels. This means that Ukraine seems to have decided to further pursue its course towards Europe. We welcome this – not in the least because we are convinced that Ukraine will be able in the long run to perform the important function of a role model for its neighbors.”

You must have heard Yanukovych’s latest statements to the Russian audience – on establishing a gas consortium, Ukraine’s likely accession to the customs union with Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan, as well as on joining the Single Economic Space. Do you think this may thwart Ukraine’s plans to integrate into the European Union?

“With your permission, I will first clarify a fundamental point: we do not rule out Ukraine’s simultaneous cooperation with the European Union and Russia. On the contrary! In this context, we judged very favorably President Yanukovych’s announcement that he strives to improve Ukrainian-Russian relations. For example, I personally can imagine very well the trilateral cooperation of Ukraine, the European Union, and Russia in the energy sector. Why not establish a trilateral gas consortium? Every idea that can unite all the parties concerned – transit countries, producers and consumers of energy resources, and modernizers – will promote our further progress. What is more, we need Ukraine as reliable partner – in the gas sector, too. The same applies to economic and commercial relations. For, in the final analysis, Ukraine is supposed to improve its economic situation by means of free trade. It is only natural that Ukraine wants to open its markets in both the West and the East. It is for this reason that the subject of free trade is playing a pivotal role in the Association Agreement negotiations now underway between the European Union and Ukraine. At the same time, I will say quite frankly: Ukraine’s accession to any customs union with EU non-member states may essentially complicate these negotiations in technical terms. So we take a very skeptical view of such statements.”

Do you mean this may hinder the signing of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU?

“I can reassure you that the European Union is still determined to bring the Association Agreement negotiations to a successful conclusion as soon as possible.”

Do you think the EU ought to be more open to Ukraine and even offer it some kind of hope for joining the EU in the future?

“We favor as close as possible integration of Ukraine in the framework of the EU Eastern Partnership program. One more thing: if the European Union and Ukraine manage to quickly finish the Association Agreement talks, Ukraine will automatically gain a large part of the total body of EU law, known as EU Acquis, thus taking a tremendous step towards Europe.

“As you see, there is a link with Europe, and we are supporting you as much as we can. Naturally, in the long term, the Kyiv leadership must show the consistent launching and implementation of reforms – only thus will it be able to pursue a course towards the EU.”

Do you agree that canceling the visa regime for Ukraine should be the first step in this direction? Moreover, the impression in Ukraine is that the EU will first cancel visas for Russia, although Ukraine unilaterally canceled the visa regime with the EU in 2005.

“You apparently know that this issue plays an important role in Germany’s domestic political debate. As for the German Embassy, I know that it is doing its best to make the visa issue procedure as un-bureaucratic as possible. The embassy’s consular section won the best responses in a poll that your newspaper conducted very recently. I think it is a very positive development.”

Now that Germany will have to deal with a new president, Viktor Yanukovych, can this affect in some way the German-Ukrainian relations or Germany’s eastern policies?

“Naturally, we are pleased with the prospect of cooperating with President Viktor Yanukovych and continuing our bilateral mutually-beneficial cooperation. We also hope in this connection that Ukraine will soon see political stability. I think it is a duty for all those who bear political responsibility. Ukraine needs a viable leadership as well as a constructive and future-oriented policy.

“On our part, we need Ukraine as a reliable partner – not only for fruitful trade relations but also in the field of gas transit and in general political matters. So we are striving for broad cooperation with Ukraine on the basis of the EU Association Agreement and as part of the Eastern Partnership program.

“But this kind of cooperation will only be possible if Ukraine does its part of the job. So I must say this: if Ukraine continues to carry out reforms, Kyiv can count on the EU’s active support in all spheres.”

Mr. Hoyer, what does official Berlin think of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s initiative about signing a new European security agreement?

“European security is an issue that equally concerns all of us. President Medvedev’s proposal gave a powerful impetus for a joint debate. In our view, this deserves careful and constructive scrutiny. The OSCE Corfu Process also offers us a required framework to begin discussing this.

“In principle, we share the spirit of the Russian proposal – common security from Vancouver to Vladivostok. But we would like to rely on and strengthen the time-tested institutions and instruments of the Euro-Atlantic space. If we manage to launch a constructive dialogue within the aforesaid framework, we will be able to achieve what meets the interests of us all: more common security in Europe by joint efforts.”

Here, in Ukraine, the impression is that many European politicians are afraid to criticize the Russian authorities for curtailing the freedom of assembly guaranteed by Article 31 of the Russian Federation’s constitution. Would you comment on this?

“The German foreign policy is guided by values, not only by interests. So the federal government is always and consistently championing human rights – be it in Russia or elsewhere. As for Russia, President Medvedev’s intention to decisively tackle Russian law problems inspires hope. The crucial point, naturally, is that – as is in the case of all political statements either in Ukraine, or in Russia, or in Europe – resolute words should be followed by deeds.”