A new impulse

Paradoxically, despite the fact that Ukraine went through the bloody events of the second Maidan and continues to live in the conditions of war unleashed by Russia against us, we are still a non-aligned state on the legislative level. A lot has been done on the level of political statements and contacts between Ukraine’s top leadership with Euro-Atlantic structures, but there is a lack of active and systematic work. There are many reasons. We will not dwell on them in detail now, we will only note that inertness in decision-making comes at a high price: we pay with human lives and the country’s territory. However, a positive signal has appeared.

“I am honored to announce that the International Secretariat on Security and Civil Cooperation between Ukraine and NATO, as well as between Ukraine and security structures of the European Union countries, is starting to work in our country,” said the head of the SBU Valentyn Nalyvaichenko opening his speech. “Yevhen Marchuk will lead this organization, represent and coordinate all the activity of the international cooperation in security issues in Ukraine-NATO and Ukraine-EU format. This person has been personally creating concepts and plans, and organized cooperation between Ukraine and NATO on the state level since early 1990s. As NSDC Secretary, in 2000-03 Yevhen Marchuk headed the State Interdepartmental Commission for Ukraine-NATO Cooperation. I want to emphasize that we invite young Ukrainians, university graduates to the newly created International Security Secretariat. There will be an open selection among people possessing the knowledge of foreign languages and expertise in the area. You will cooperate with us in this area, utterly important for national security. Our goal is to bring cooperation with NATO to the level of strategic partnership, which was previously established by Yevhen Marchuk.”

The Day has been following the subject of Ukraine’s joining NATO closely for a long time. Let us remind that as the NSDC Secretary, Marchuk promoted the adoption of the Law “On National Security of Ukraine” in 2003. The law included a formula, according to which Ukraine could join military-political blocs, North-Atlantic Alliance in particular, to guarantee its national security. Also, a military doctrine was developed according to this formula and signed by the president Kuchma. But the situation has changed after the Istanbul Summit of 2004. It became clear that Ukraine is very close to signing the MAP (NATO Membership Action Plan), and during this period Kuchma disappeared for a day or two with Vladimir Putin somewhere on the Azov coast.

After his return Kuchma gave orders to immediately remove the mentioned formula concerning cooperation with NATO from the military doctrine. Later, after Yanukovych’s team came to power, it had this formula removed through the parliament from the abovementioned Law “On the National Security of Ukraine.” If the second president Kuchma, just as his best disciple Yanukovych, did not play with foreign policy in his time, Russia would have hardly dared to assault openly. Ukraine would have had an absolutely different status and relations with the Alliance. So, we have an answer to the question who is guilty. Now there is a question, what to do? To approach NATO collective security system at an increased speed.

“I think that everyone understands well that the intensification of security cooperation between Ukraine, the European structures, and NATO gains a new impulse,” said Marchuk during his speech. “I hope this impulse will be reinforced when the Verkhovna Rada adopts relevant changes to the law on lifting the so-called non-aligned status. It does not mean Ukraine will be accepted to NATO instantly, but it opens the road for a more active cooperation in terms of security between Ukraine and these structures. The very name of the security service implies the guaranteeing of state security, that is why it is entitled with this honorable mission. Since I participated in advanced stages of expanding of cooperation with NATO and the EU security structures, I have a lot of expertise in the field. Of course, the world is changing rather rapidly, the present-day reality is very dynamic, but I think that with journalists’ help the SBU will demonstrate its new quality.”

A hard path lies before Ukraine, especially considering the current international conditions. We had a chance but did not use it. A serious rollback followed. Now we will have to catch up with the development of relations with NATO and the EU security structures in more complicated conditions. Marchuk’s appointment to the corresponding post is a serious sign. The former SBU head, former defense minister, former NSDC secretary, former prime minister of Ukraine, and army general, Marchuk left active political life 10 years ago after leaving the post of defense minister. Before that, he said in an interview to BBC Ukraine that he would not let the Ukrainian army be used for political benefits in elections. Afterwards, various governments did not dare use Marchuk’s professional skills for 10 years, even though other influential people in Ukraine and abroad constantly sought contact with him. We were afraid of people with principles. And now we have done it.

“This is an extremely important, timely, and necessary step for Ukraine,” comments former foreign minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Ohryzko to The Day. “I hope that the Verkhovna Rada will restore our strategic course towards NATO on the legislative level in the near future. And this means that the whole state mechanism will have to be brought into accord with these decisions. This is an extremely complicated task, and it is only up to those capable of performing such tasks. Yevhen Marchuk is one of those people. It is a person with profound expertise of a top-level state official. I think he will be the most adequate figure for such work. Ukraine has done a lot on its course towards Euro-Atlantic integration, and there are certain results to show. Even though, unfortunately, we have rolled back in this context during the recent years. Nevertheless, the tasks that are set in this respect are extremely challenging, so I want to wish Yevhen Marchuk success in his effort in the near future.”

What tasks are set before the newly created SBU Secretariat?

“Implementing the agreements reached during the last summit in Wales, where Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko agreed on the important components of our country’s security with the world leaders, is very important for us,” Nalyvaichenko emphasized. “The most important is to restore security cooperation in the matter of reforming the whole security sector (all of the structures). The second one is to resume normal civil control over the activity of special services and other security structures in Ukraine. The third is to resume and adopt on a higher level of the Ukraine-NATO cooperation plan and strategy. A special issue is the reform of the security sector and civil control of all security and law-enforcement structures. Now it is determined by the president as a priority in national security and international cooperation.”

Lately, we have seen an increase in the number of statements by official representatives as well as experts from some Western countries to the effect that Ukraine’s joining NATO is untimely or even unrealistic. What is the reason for that?

“Of course, statements by Steinmeier, Brzezinski, and Gorbachev are not in support of the Ukrainian situation,” says Marchuk. “I would associate it with Russia’s extremely serious activity. Russia is working with influential leaders through all of its mechanisms. I will not develop this idea any further, but you need to be realistic in order to work in this direction effectively. One thing is the recent statements made by Brzezinski and Steinmeier, but the official decisions are something different. Let me remind you that the position of the Bucharest Summit of 2008 that NATO’s door is open for Ukraine remains valid today. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg proved this to us. The other side of the question is about real circumstances. Ukraine cannot submit the application immediately after the law is amended. It is the same as if a primary school student came to a registry office and announced he wished to get married. There are corresponding rules, the regime, and preparation procedures. But the most important is that the regime will be defined by the President, Verkhovna Rada, and referendum. We need a serious transformation. NATO is a collective security and defense system comprising 28 countries for the sake of peace and security. The Ukrainian situation has a military compound to it. And obviously the 28 countries, with their 28 parliaments and 28 heads of state, are not too interested in picking up a military problem which needs to be solved. That is why Ukraine will have to work on this very hard. But those who keep going will reach the destination.”