Richard L. Armitage, Deputy Secretary of State
Press Conference in the Ukraine
Kyiv, Ukraine
March 25, 2004
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Hello ladies and gentlemen. I apologize to you for
being a little late. I had long meetings with President Kuchma and the Prime
Minister, and I have just come from a rather lengthy meeting with the
opposition. Rather than me yammering at you, why don't I just turn it over to
questions. I'll do my best to try to answer them.
QUESTION: Shane Ferris, Kyiv Weekly. I m interested in knowing the overall tone
of your conversations with people here. Hopeful, overall very positive,
forward-looking?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Any other characterizations you left out? I think
they were straightforward. Look, it is not a secret that we've got an economic
relationship and a security relationship, but our political relationship hasn t
been as good as it might be. We are coming to up a season of elections in
October. It is our view that the nation of Ukraine has committed itself to
certain standards as it approaches the EU and Atlantic integration and the NATO
Action Plan. We would be able to develop our political relationship if there
are free, fair, open, and democratic elections. It is a very important
milestone for Ukraine, I believe.
QUESTION: Argumenti I Fakty, Zhanna Shevchenko. What are the shortcomings of
the political dialogue between Ukraine and the U.S. that you spoke about today
at the press conference?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, we had a lack of in-depth discussions on
political matters for some time here in Ukraine. We haven't been able to
discuss strategic issues very much in-depth at all because we have lacked this
sort of interaction. Some people have even accused us of ignoring Ukraine,
which is not the case. We think that, if we can get into a situation where the
international community, the European Union, the United States, etc., sees that
the nation is moving forward to these October elections in a free, open, and
democratic way, free from any media intimidation or opposition intimidation,
then we can get back to the type of relationship we envisioned when Ukraine
became free about a dozen years ago.
QUESTION: What is the political problem that you mentioned today at the press
conference?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Repeat the question so I make sure I understand it,
please.
QUESTION: Today at the press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, you
said there is an insufficient level of political dialogue between the U.S. and
Ukraine. In what concrete aspects?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: We didn't have a high-level dialogue with the
President. One of the reasons was we had some real questions about the movement
towards democracy. Now we are coming up to a time where that will be tested, to
the October 31 elections. So we would like to get back to a situation where we
can have high-level dialogue again. But in order to do so, we re going to have
to be convinced that there are free, fair, open and democratic elections that
are conducted free of intimidation.
QUESTION: Sergey Kyselyov, Radio Liberty. I d like to ask you, in what way do
you see a way of Ukraine to NATO just now?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Ukraine has a NATO Action Plan. We would be looking
forward to discussions in Istanbul and maybe an intensified dialogue, leading
eventually to a MAP. For us, the nation of Ukraine committed itself to certain
standards in that NATO Action Plan. This again gets back to the question of
free, fair and democratic elections. This is the standard that Ukraine has
accepted for itself by accepting that plan. We certainly want to see Ukraine
follow through with it.
QUESTION: Mykhail Biletsky, MigNews Magazine. Did you hear from the Ukrainian
authorities today a clear confirmation that Ukrainian troops will stay in Iraq?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: I simply voiced my view that the U.S. government was
grateful for Ukraine s decision on providing troops to Iraq. I don't think
Ukraine did it for the United States. Ukraine did it for her own reasons. It
wanted to be involved in the global war on terrorism and wanted to do some of
the difficult work that is involved in this global war on terrorism. We did not
discuss the removal of troops at all.
QUESTION: France-Press Agency, Hanna Tsoukanova. Recently the U.S. has
announced that they would like an introduction of a moratorium in Ukraine
checks on the opposition-owned or opposition-related commercial enterprises by
the tax inspectors, after a similar moratorium was introduced for the checks of
mass-media. Did you discuss this problem during your negotiations in Kyiv today
and what response did you get from the Ukrainian authorities?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well certainly, for openers, any government has the
right to collect appropriate taxes from citizens and businesses to apply then
to the general public good. But, if those authorities are misused or seen as
being directed against certain businesses associated with opposition, then that
could be perceived as a perversion. So we discussed these matters with the
President and with his colleagues at some length. I expressed our view that it
would be best for U.S.-Ukrainian relations if these elections went forward free
of any of that kind of problem. I think our friends are looking at what I said
and I m sure we'll be having more discussions in the days that follow.
QUESTION: Olena Iskorostenska, First National Channel, Svit.Oglyad. Mr.
Armitage, it is well-known that the elections in Ukraine will be held in
October, but the NATO summit will start in June. On one hand, we have the
example of Turkey being criticized by the European Union for not adhering to
certain democratic requirements. On the other hand, this way Ukraine does not
have any clear guarantees that, for its 12-year long contribution to supporting
stability in the European Union and in the world, it will get any closer to the
NATO membership. Has it not deserved to be recognized as a member of NATO in
Istanbul for its contribution? And secondly, you said to intensify the dialog
in Istanbul. Is that some new form of cooperation - an intensified dialogue,
or is it just a regular expression?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: I'll try to answer that. I think there were three
questions in there. Regarding Turkey and their desire to get into the EU and
our support for it. They are indeed living up to those standards and they have
been a full-up member of NATO for many years. And they are different from
Ukraine, which is a newer country to the inner working and hidden mechanisms of
NATO. I did not say that there would be intensified dialogue at Istanbul. I
said that we would be discussing in Istanbul intensified dialogue as we went
forward. And the question is, has Ukraine done sufficiently to get accession to
NATO? No, it is a more involved process than that. There are many standards
that have to be adhered to and be seen as sticking before that decision can be
made.
QUESTION: Olha Horina, Novyi Kanal. Who of Ukrainian opposition leaders have
you met, what are the results of these meetings and what is your personal
impression?
Armitage: Yushchenko and his colleagues. I had met him before in Washington, I
think twice. My impressions are that the opposition is very intense, very
dedicated, troubled, and wants to ensure that the international community is
watching very closely to see that generally recognized European standards for
elections are met. It was a good experience for me. I want to hear from all
sides of the question. I had long talks with the government, so I wanted to
have equal talks with the opposition. I was impressed with their dedication.
QUESTION: Did you discuss the bills that are being discussed in Parliament
right now and the upcoming vote on the constitutional changes? Did you have any
message from Washington on that, and did you get any reply from the Ukrainian
officials on that?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: I didn't discuss specific bills that are moving
through, but I did discuss the question of constitutional reform. My view on
this was that any nation should amend the constitution only carefully and only
after very considerable study. I didn't think that an amendment of a
constitution this relatively close to an election is the wisest course of
action. That was my message.
QUESTION: Yuriy Yomin, Ponedel nik weekly. On February 11, 2004 an American
newspaper Wall Street Journal published an editorial titled A Chestnut
Revolution. It explored a plan, according to which after the events of the
Rose Revolution in Georgia comes the time to do something similar in Ukraine.
It was entitled this way because Kyiv is famous for its spring chestnut
blossom. Now is spring, and we can witness the following events: George Soros
is visiting Ukraine, students start their sit-in on the Independence Square,
and certain mass-media start spreading revolutionary ideas. Is all of this a
part of the Chestnut Revolution ? What is your comment to this?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: I have never heard of the Chestnut Revolution.
Since I am so frequently and often criticized in the Wall Street Journal, I don
't normally read that any more, either. I don't know how to respond to that
question. What goes on here internally with meetings or rallies is strictly, as
far as I m concerned, something for the people of Ukraine to work out. They
ought to work it out as best as possible themselves, free of outside
intervention. I think that the overwhelming concern of the international
community and certainly of the United States, as I've said, at this stage in
Ukraine s development, that Ukraine is seen as a country mature enough to go
forward and hold free, fair, and democratic elections.
QUESTION: Anastasiya Zanuda, Ukrainian BBC service. Should Ukraine expect to
get any economic profits, any commercial contracts for the reconstruction in
Iraq? Right now the wide-spread opinion in Ukraine is that the only benefit
that Ukraine received based on its peace-keeping participation in Iraq is the
political rehabilitation of the Kuchma government in the West, because until
then it looked like Kuchma might find himself in isolation due to numerous
scandals that surround his activity.
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: I want to disaggregate the decision of the
government of Ukraine to participate in Iraq and contracts. The reason I want
to disaggregate is I have a higher feeling and opinion of the people of
Ukraine. I don't think that Ukrainian soldiers, the sons of Ukrainian mothers,
went to Iraq in order to get contracts. They went to Iraq, it seems to me, to
do their part in the global war on terrorism. Put that on one side. Now the
question of contracts is one that I did discuss. I m making arrangements for a
team of American officials who know how the bids for those contracts should
best be written in order and organized in order to be successful. They are
going to come here in order to see if we can t, in the bidding process, do a
little better.
QUESTION: Tell me, please, you have had a talk with the President, with the
opposition. What is your forecast will the October elections be democratic?
Will Ukraine follow the democratic path of development?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: I have no idea which way things are going to turn
out. I come to work every morning and, in this case, I came to work in Ukraine,
to try to do my best to get this relationship in a situation where the United
States can have a sustained, predictable relationship. In order for us to have
a sustained, predictable relationship, we have to have generally shared values,
to include those values that surround the rights of individuals to express
themselves at the ballot box. I think that is clearly understood here in
Ukraine. I had good discussion with the Prime Minister and with the President
about it, as well as with the opposition. I can express optimism and hope, but
only the people of Ukraine can bring about that success on the 31st of October.
QUESTION: Roman Olearchyk, Kyiv Post. Did you discuss today with Ukrainian
officials this push in Ukraine to join a new free trade union with Russia,
Kazakhstan, and other Soviet states.
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: The SingleEconomic Space? We did not.
QUESTION: Second question. Did you discuss the Odessa-Brody pipeline issue? The
U.S. has urged Ukraine not to reverse it, there s still no oil. There are a lot
of complicated issues involved.
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: No, I expressed my view that the Odessa-Brody
pipeline was both a good economic and strategic decision in my opinion. I
realize that no oil has yet flowed to Europe, but with the specter of oil going
to Europe without having to go through the Bosporos with the added time and the
environmental possibilities that exist, this was something that ought to be
realized. There are complications. There are, I think, some things to be worked
out. All in all, I was complimentary of it. I did not have any fear that it
would be reversed. I got no sign of it.
QUESTION: Ukrainska Pravda. Have you warned the Ukrainian officials about what
the U.S.-Ukraine relationship would look like in the case of unfair and not
democratic presidential elections? Is the U.S. planning on any sanctions
regarding the Ukrainian authorities, particularly such as those mentioned by
former Secretary of State Albright to block the bank accounts or not to issue
visas to Ukrainian officials in the case of non-democratic elections?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: My discussions did not talk about sanctions. The
aspects of our legislation which you attribute Ms. Albright having spoken
about, such as visa restrictions, are parts of our law. They can be used in
this country in any other country. Our whole emphasis here was on the positive
side of trying to get free, fair, and democratic elections. There is no doubt
in anyone s mind that our relationship, as I said earlier, could not be
sustained, could not be predictable in Ukraine, absent of a full-out
demonstration of democratic process. There is no, I think, illusion from anyone
in the government or out about this.
QUESTION: Petro Bilayn, Ukrainsky Novyny information agency. In U.S.-Ukraine
relations, which is a higher priority Ukraine s participation in the
operations in Iraq and other anti-terrorist activity or demonstrating free and
fair elections? In other words, if the Ukrainian authorities agree to increase
the number of U.S. troops in Iraq, would the U.S. agree to turn a blind eye to
certain problems of the Ukrainian autumn elections?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: To be my enemy s enemy is not necessarily to my
friend. This is the part of the United States. Any decision that Ukraine makes
on Iraq is strictly and totally and solely Ukraine s to make. And it s a
separate and distinct issue from the question of democratic process. I don t
like the suggestion that the United States turns her eye because of a brigade
of troops in Iraq. This is not what we do. Our highest priority as a nation and
the President of the United States highest concern is to be able to protect
our citizens. In that regard, you would have to say the global war on terrorism
is temporarily our highest priority. But it in no way supplants the longer-term
interest we have in having partners in all aspects of our political life
internationally who share our values, to include a great affection for the
democratic process.
QUESTION: Ukrinform, Natalya Kostina. Does U.S. assistance to Ukraine in
getting the market economy status and WTO accession also depend on free and
transparent elections in Ukraine in October?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, the WTO accession right now is dependent on
some legislation getting through the Rada, particularly on the question, as I've given to understand, of optical media. The question of the market economy is
one, there is a process involved, but I would say, if I were to give advice to
our friends in Ukraine on this matter, I d be saying they ought to be getting
the U.S. business community who exist here in Kyiv and other major cities, to
really rally behind the nation and to lobby the government. We are certainly
willing to entertain this and I think we'll be petitioned again by the
government of Ukraine. I hope they'll petition us again and we can go through
the orderly process of determining this. I think, as a practical matter, if
there is a lack of democracy here in Ukraine, then a lot of programs and a lot
of things will be interrupted, not the least of which would be some integration
in EU and Atlantic and NATO. So the implications of a lack of a democratic
process are very great.
QUESTION: (Tim Vickery, Associated Press) My question addresses Russia
actually. I m interested to know what the U.S. government knows about the role
of the killing of the Chechen rebel Yanderbayev and why the U.S. would object
if he were put on an international list of terrorists, either the U.S. or the
UN list?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: The Chechen leader who was killed? You re asking me
if I would object if he were on the terrorist list? He was, I thought. What the
U.S. knows about it, the U.S. will keep to itself. These are things that we
share with the government of Qatar and we've had talks with our friends in the
Russian Federation. I think those talks are best carried out that way, much
better carried out that way.
QUESTION: (Inaudible)
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: I was actually under the impression that he was on
the list. On the foreign terrorist list. I thought he was. He s dead, right? It
depends on which Chechens, and not every Chechen is not necessarily on the
foreign terrorist list. As I understand, this particular gentlemen had a richly
developed reputation and a lot of blood on his hands. But I'll tell you what.
If you wait a while, we'll provide an answer to the Embassy to that. I was
under the impression that the deceased was (on the terrorist list). I thank all
very much and again apologize for being a little late. Thank you.
[End]
Released on March 25, 2004
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