Azerbaijan, Baku, 29 May / Trend corr A. Gasimova/ Trend ' interview with Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko on results of the energy security summit which took place in Kiev on 22-23 May:
Question: Has the Kiev energy summit met been up to your expectations? Will Ukraine continue such sort of arrangements in future?
Answer: I can say without exaggeration that the Energy Security Summit was a very important event both for Ukraine and entire Europe. Energy security issues are gaining more importance in the world. Therefore, the idea to develop entire European policy in the energy resources transit field is gaining more understanding.
The participants of the Summit have taken next practical step in this connection, particularly regarding creation of a common energy transit area. At this stage, the Baltic Sea, Black Sea and Caspian Sea regions must be united. The participants of Summit approved the Common Statement about the Baltic-Black-Sea-Caspian energy transit community.
The common energy area must take into consideration the interests, rights and duties of all energy market participants - energy resources producing countries, transit countries and consuming countries. That will enable avoiding the attempts to use energy levers as political impact tool in the international relations.
At Ukraine's suggestion, the participants of the Summit approved the Kiev Declaration on the principles of global energy security which will be submitted to the G8 and all EU countries.
We see significant progress in diversification of energy resources and transportation roots. A proof for that is the beginning of practical implementation of the Odessa-Brody-Plotsk-Gdansk project, whose feasibility study designing will be soon completed. A Common Statement was signed to support further implementation of the project.
We managed to attract the attention of international community to the energy potential of Ukraine, particularly to the plans to construct a complex for deep refining of Caspian oil in our country. We have consolidated our efforts to create a new architecture of European energy security. For the first time, a real mechanism was offered to assimilate the interests of suppliers, transporters and consumers of energy resources.
We have all grounds to say that the energy security-related arrangements of this scale will be further carried out by Ukraine jointly with our international partners.
Question: What is Azerbaijan's role in implementation of the project to construct the White Stream gas pipeline intended to transport gas from Central Asia to Europe via Ukraine?
Answer: The gas pipeline will connect Central Asia with the European countries via the South Caucasus and Ukraine. Thus, we may join gas producing, transporting and consuming countries into one group. The project is quite interesting for Azerbaijan because it is a country which transits Asian gas and has its own gas, which it can sell in the most profitable market - European market. I think double profit makes real the participation of Azerbaijan in implementation of the project.
Question: How much can export of Caspian oil to Europe via Odessa-Brody pipeline promote competitiveness in the region and strengthen the Europe's energy security?
Answer: Transportation of the Caspian oil via Odessa-Brody pipeline has gained a practical character. The issue was one amongst the key ones in the agenda of the energy summit. The project must be continued given the wide spectrum of cooperation not only between Ukraine and Azerbaijan but other interested countries as well. We spoke about creation of an energy corridor to connect the Caspian Sea and the Baltic Sea. That is a new element of regional cooperation.
There is a political support from all countries involved in the project. Now we have to coordinate economic and technical details, to put them in practice and to see the results.
The Azerbaijani President confirmed that his country has always supported the export diversification policy. We appraise Azerbaijan's readiness to cooperate on the issue.
Several days ago, a new terminal was opened on the Black Sea shore in Georgia which was constructed through Azerbaijani investments. It is an integral element of the energy corridor.
Question: Does the current level of the Azerbaijani-Ukrainian bilateral co-operation correspond to the existing potential? What successful aspects can you highlight in the bilateral relations for today and future? Which of them will be discussed during your upcoming visit to Azerbaijan?
Answer: We have achieved considerable progress in the development of bilateral relations over the past years, especially in dynamic development of the trade. Its amount annually increased by almost one and a half time. Effective co-operation has been established at the international arena, especially in format of ODED-GUAM.
In addition, we activated energy co-operation, especially within energy transport corridor Asia-Caucasus-Europe. Further, agreements were reached with regards to the realization of Odessa - Brody - Plotsk - Gdansk project as an alternative and efficient supply of energy resources to Europe. We connect the prospects of the access of our co-operation to a new qualitative level with the development of the energy co-operation.
As you know, the first meeting of Ukrainian-Azerbaijani expert working group, for determination of the parameters and directions of the co-operation on fuel and energy complexes, took place at the beginning of May 2008. Key directions of the energy co-operation were determined. It is co-operation in transit of crude oil and oil products to Central and Western Europe, Azerbaijani oil refining in the Ukrainian plants, as well as organization of the supply of oil and gas equipment being manufactures in Azerbaijan to Ukraine.
Furthermore, today there are good prospects for expansion of the co-operation with regards to aviation, transport, commerce, construction, agriculture.
Significant part of the talks at high level will be dedicated to these issues, as well as realization of the agreements being reached during the Azerbaijan President's recent visit to Ukraine.
Question: What issues should firstly be the topic of discussions during GUAM Summit in Tbilisi scheduled for July 2008? At what stage is the process of forming peacekeeping battalion within GUAM?
Answer: Next time, the Tbilisi summit of GUAM - Organization for Democracy and Economic Development will certainly consider issues concerning summary of Azerbaijan's chairmanship in GUAM and an action plan for the next year. In this regard, I want to mention the significant contribution of Azerbaijan for further formation of GUAM and rise in the Organization's authority all over the world.
The top-priorities of the agenda of the summit include the prospects to realize joint projects in the economic sphere connected with the participation of GUAM in energy security of Europe, and efficient use of transit potential of GUAM member states. The further cooperation among member states in their fight against organized crime and smuggling, as well as cooperation in humanitarian sphere will also be discussed.
Currently the issue to establish a peaceful battalion of GUAM is under stage of initial discussions at expert level, and it is premature to discuss it at the Presidential Summit.
Question: What difficulties does the Russian factor present for Ukraine's entrance to NATO? What pros and cons can Ukraine's entrance to Alliance bring to the Ukrainians?
Answer: I would like to mention that the issue of entrance to NATO is being considered by Ukraine for long-term prospects. It is not the target of one year, especially one summit.
As you know, Russia painfully reacts to this issue and in our opinion, it is fully groundless. We accept such approach as unconstructive and irrational in several kinds.
More correctly, it is possible to speak about Ukraine's joining the NATO Membership Action Plan and it really may take place at one of the next summits.
Ukraine considers Russia as a reliable partner and does not impose targets to anyhow bring harms to the security interests of this State. I will not get tired of repeating for thousand times that we are prepared to provide all necessary guarantees to quiet our Russian colleague. We are prepared to expand consultations on this issue at all levels, and we can not understand why Russia prefers stormy reaction to quiet and constructive talks. We need to discuss it and find point of closeness. I can only say that due to the absence of such consultations, any ungrounded resistance of Russia can not be and will never be decisive factor in the issues of Ukraine's national security.
With regards to the pros and cons of entrance, we do not see the second one but the first one is very clear for us. Firstly, it is strong safety from any external threats - real and potential. As the history shows, NATO is the only organization of collective security, which has passed tests for long years and could guarantee stability and security in Euro-Atlantic territory. Secondly, it is a strong signal for the investors that it is possible to quietly invest in this country. Today it is one of the most considerable arguments for Ukraine. Thirdly, it is an opportunity to share the responsibility with our European partners for security of separate regions and continent in general. We have never considered ourselves as 'consumers of security' and are prepared to provide experience, firstly peacekeeping experience, for settling issues of security in large-scale.
Today we exactly understand what immediate tasks that Ukraine should resolve to join the MAP and in perspective, NATO as soon as possible. I do not have doubts that we will successfully overcome all obstacles in this direction. I am sure that the closing result will be the large-scale and unprecedented process of unification of Europe, creation of a unified and indivisible territory of security and prosperity.