Borys Tarasyuk: “Ukraine and Georgia’s membership in NATO is closed issue”

The former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, a chairman of the parliamentary committee on European integration issues Borys Tarasyuk told the Charter’97 press-center about prospects of Ukraine’s membership in the NATO.

- Mr. Tarasyuk, what could you say as an expert, a politician and a citizen about the decision adopted at the NATO summit?

- As an expert I can say that nothing dramatic has taken place. On obvious reasons the decision hadn’t been formalized, but the message is rather clear: Ukraine and Georgia’s membership in the NATO is a closed issue. I could repeat once again: nothing dramatic has taken place, as in fact we have been working on the NATO Membership Action Plan for three years. The final decision has been taken place today now only on reasons of differing points of view inside the alliance itself.

- Has the Russian factor influenced that?

- The Russian factor has taken place obviously and expressly. And it is deplorable the alliance is not free from external influences.

As a politician I believe it’s a blow on the democratic forces of Ukraine, on all those who are firmly supporting Ukraine’s membership in the NATO. At the same time I believe that our holiday is near at hand.

As a citizen I believe that it is an unfair decision in respect of Ukraine. But I hope that it would influence the intensification of discussions inside the country and would bring benefit to those who know little about the NATO.

- References to the public opinion in Ukraine are heard all the time. Is it a convincing argument? Are people really interested in the NATO and Ukraine’s relations with the NATO?

- Opinion polls show that the NATO is not among the priorities. But when the NATO is mentioned, several factors could be noted here. Firstly, anti-NATO stereotypes of the Soviet times are still wide-spread in the society. Secondly, our political opponents are speculating on the NATO issue and mislead people. So confusion exists in their minds. First they vote for membership in the NATO, and then they are against, so their real stand is unclear.

- And what would the democratic forces do in this connection to raise awareness of the population?

- The position of the government should be more active certainly. Mostly the president, Foreign Minister and Defence Minister have been talking about the NATO, they were the only three who talked about that. Consolidation of the democratic forces in this question and a more active awareness campaign are needed, in fact, not in word.

- Are there any differences on Ukraine’s integration to the EU between the political forces?

- Actually, there are fewer differences between the political forces on the subject of the EU. It’s a fact. Public opinion is more positive towards the EU as well.