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Viktor Yushchenko: â€œThe main priority of my visit to Azerbaijan is to sign Road Map for Ukraine-Azerbaijan cooperation in 2009-2010â€ â€“ INTERVIEW

Viktor Yushchenko: â€œThe main priority of my visit to Azerbaijan is to sign Road Map for Ukraine-Azerbaijan cooperation in 2009-2010â€ â€“ <font color=red>INTERVIEW </font>

09 April 2009 10:58 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Lachin Sultanova â€“ APA. Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenkoâ€™s exclusive interview to APA

-On what stage are the issues on Ukraine-Azerbaijan bilateral cooperation and on energy security?

-The economic-commercial cooperation between Ukraine and Azerbaijan is developing dynamically. During my business visit to Azerbaijan in 2008 Azerbaijani and Ukrainian presidents gave instructions to increase the trade turnover between the two countries by $1 billion by the end of 2009. This was achieved at the end of last year. There are important prospects in other fields of cooperation, too. Taking into account the prospects to launch telecommunication satellites and other satellites, our countries are laying the foundation of the cooperation to establish space industry. One of the main prospects in the field of energy security is the implementation of Odessa-Brodi-Plotsk oil pipeline. After the technical-economic feasibility is over, the project will be presented to the interested parties. We are also interested in all the real variants on transportation of the Caspian gas to Europe, as well as to Ukraine.

As regards involvement of Azerbaijani investment in Ukraineâ€™s economy, the agreements of SOCAR with Ukmafta and Ukrtransstroy are practically being realized. The question is the transportation of the Caspian oil to Ukraine, refinement in our oil refineries and realization of oil products in the internal market and markets of the European Union.

-How does the political situation in Ukraine influence the bilateral relations? Is there any connection between non-realization of the idea of filling Odessa-Brodi pipeline with technical oil and this situation?

-Fortunately, I can assure you that the political situation in Ukraine does not have any influence on the bilateral relations between our countries. Ukraineâ€™s foreign policy, especially protection of national interests, is supported by all the leading political forces except Communist Party. As regards filling Odessa-Brodi pipeline with the Caspianâ€™s technical oil, unfortunately, this process delays, because some non-independent Ukrainian politicians do not demonstrate farsight. But we are considering this issue again and will surely achieve success.

-Can the world financial crisis have influence on the implementation of Odessa-Brodi-Plotsk-Gdansk oil pipeline, Nabucco gas pipeline and establishment of unique energy transit space? Did the gas crisis between Russia and Ukraine have impact on the realization of these projects?

-Irrespective of the world economic crisis, reliable transportation of energy resources to Europe remains urgent. Thatâ€™s why all the above-mentioned projects are important for us. I do not want to conceal that there are some financial difficulties in terms of investing in these projects. If we take into consideration the â€œgas conflictâ€ between Ukraine and Russia in January, I can say that it once more proved the necessity of rejecting political elements in the bilateral energy relations. The cause of the January situation was the wish to earn political dividends at the cost of economic pressures. It was proved once more that the Russiaâ€™s scheme of â€œunique sourceâ€ for a great part of Europe did not justify itself. In this respect, Ukraineâ€™s proposals on establishment of the Baltic-Black Sea-Caspian unique energy space, implementation of Odessa-Brodi-Plotsk oil pipeline and realization of energy transportation through alternative sources are urgent.

-What concrete steps will be taken for the realization of joint transport projects?

-Transport cooperation between Ukraine and Azerbaijan is regulated by the bilateral intergovernmental agreements, as well as the agreements within the framework of TRACECA, GUAM, BSEC. There are several more projects on transport cooperation between our countries. One of them is to extend Viking (Klaipeda Ilyichevsk) railway container transportation route to Baku and in future to Turkmenbashy. There is also a project to realize communication corridor that will unite the countries of Central Asia with Azerbaijan, Georgia and Ukraine through fiber-optic cable. The idea put forth by Azerbaijan during its chairmanship of GUAM is being considered. It envisages merging of Viking container transportation route with Poti-Baku-Aktau-Almaty project, it may simplify transportation from Asia to Europe and in the opposite direction. It should be mentioned that Azerbaijan chairs GUAMâ€™s committee for transportation issues and it allows us to completely take into account the interests of your country in the above-mentioned field.

-Azerbaijan ranks the second in Ukraineâ€™s military-technical cooperation with CIS countries. Is there such cooperation in the field of military industry?

- Indeed Azerbaijan took the second place after Russia for its import of defense goods from Ukraine. Our defense export specifies by the low-capacity export of the large specter defense goods. Our countries have potential for realization of large-scale projects in both military-technical and military industrial fields. Therefore we are planning to establish Azerbaijan-Ukraine intergovernmental commission for military-technical cooperation. We will sign relevant documents during my visit to Baku.

Ukraine is ready for constructive cooperation with its partners in Azerbaijan in the field of modernization and reconstruction of defense techniques. In this context, we mean the armored vehicles, aircrafts, artillery systems, radars and missile complexes.

I would like to add that one of the prospects of our cooperation can be scientific elaboration and production of new defense goods, including arms. We are looking forward for joint implementation of new technologies for reconstruction of defense goods and modernization of this process. Ukraine can offer technical assistance to Azerbaijan to create shipbuilding basis for construction of small warships and supportive vessels. We are also offering opportunities for training of Azerbaijani servicemen.

I can say that there is good condition for development of military-technical cooperation between Azerbaijan and Ukraine. Both sides have an intention and therefore we will develop this process.

- How do you evaluate GUAM prospects? Will GUAM continue its activity, if Moldova leaves the organization?

- You know, recently GUAM has become the excellent international organization â€“ the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development. GUAM Secretariat opened its office in Kiev. Today GUAM is focusing on the priorities of common cooperation, uniting of transportation potential of member countries, improvement of mutual trade conditions. It is an excellent impetus for the strengthening of integration processes between the countries. Joining or leaving GUAM is in competence of member countries. I hope the situation will be stabilized in Moldova soon and the parliamentary election will make the authorities able to specify foreign policy priorities. I believe that GUAM will develop its experience and influence year by year.

-What does Ukraine expect from the Eastern Partnership initiative?

-Ukraine welcomes and supports the Eastern Partnership initiative. We accept it as a message that European Union understood the necessity of its relations with neighboring countries. We are interested in the realization of this program and ready to join it, if it meets the Ukraineâ€™s national interests and assists the Ukraineâ€™s integration into the European Union. For example, we are interested in creation of managing system of the Ukraineâ€™s integrated borders within the EU standards. It is important for us to liberalize visa regime between Ukraine and EU. We see the Eastern Partnership as an important tool for integration of Ukrainian energy market into the European market. But there is some cautiousness. We think that the Eastern Partnership Program doesnâ€™t clearly describe the prospects of partner countries for EU membership. This factor will put the strengthening of EU policy in the Eastern Europe under the question. EU Declaration adopted on March 19-20, 2009 mentioned this issue.

In our opinion, the Eastern partnership must not be an ideological project, but practical concept. This initiative has to change the Ukraineâ€™s EU membership perspectives. Therefore Ukraine intends to take active part in the Eastern Partnership multipartite dialogue and supports active political contacts between the counties joined the initiative, of course, within our national interests.

-What does your visit program contain in Azerbaijan and what issues are included in the Presidential Councilâ€™s agenda?

-The main priority of this visit is the signing of Road Map for Ukraine-Azerbaijan cooperation in 2009-2010. Our plans also include the peaceful space researches and use, and ratification of the documents about the development of interregional relations. The second important factor is the stimulation of development of economic cooperation. Ukraine and Azerbaijan have energy and transportation opportunities to offer each other. We are going to discuss the issues of scientific researches and the issues of mutual interests.