FOR THE RECORD: United States-Ukraine Joint Statement signed in Kyiv (06/18/00)

FOR THE RECORD

United States-Ukraine Joint Statement signed in Kyiv

President Bill Clinton and Leonid Kuchma signed a joint statement on June 5 during the U.S. president's visit to Kyiv. The statement reaffirmed their commitment "to advance and deepen the strategic partnership" between their countries, and summarized several new U.S.-Ukrainian agreements on nuclear safety, economic reform, commercial endeavors, and anti-corruption efforts. Following is the text of the joint statement as released by the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv.

United States-Ukraine Joint Statement

Ukrainian President Kuchma and U.S. President Clinton, during their meeting in Kyiv on June 5, 2000, reaffirmed their commitment to advance and deepen the strategic partnership between the United States and Ukraine in the 21st century. President Kuchma emphasized Ukraine's commitment to a democratic and market economic transformation. The presidents agreed that this transformation is the essential basis for fulfilling Ukraine's European aspirations. President Clinton praised the leadership of President Kuchma and his new government for early progress on reform, noting the importance of accelerated implementation of reforms, which will strengthen the ability of the United States to support Ukraine in its efforts to improve cooperation with the IMF and other international financial institutions.

President Clinton welcomed the announcement by President Kuchma to close the Chornobyl nuclear power plant on December 15, 2000, noting the importance of this decision to strengthening the security of all Europeans, especially the Ukrainian people and their immediate neighbors. President Clinton announced the decision of the United States to provide another $78 million to the Chornobyl Shelter Fund. He noted the commitment of the United States to continue to work with Ukraine, the G-7 and the international community toward resolving the remaining tasks associated with the closure of Chornobyl, in particular to help provide for stable electricity generation in Ukraine supported by necessary energy reforms. The presidents expressed their support for a successful second pledging conference to be held in July in Berlin to obtain the remaining funds needed for the Shelter Fund. President Kuchma welcomed the announcement of an additional $2 million from the United States for nuclear safety work in Ukraine.

The presidents welcomed the initiation of the Ukraine Nuclear Fuel Qualification Project, a major technology project to enable Ukraine to evaluate and certify the reliability and safety of new suppliers of fuel for Ukraine's nuclear energy sector. With an estimated value of $30 million, this project will allow Ukraine to diversify its sources of supply of nuclear fuel. President Clinton expressed support for Ukrainian participation in the emerging east-west energy corridor from the Caspian region to world markets, within the contexts of Ukraine's energy sector reforms and the United States' broader Caspian energy policy.

President Kuchma reaffirmed Ukraine's European choice and its goal of achieving associate membership and eventually full membership in the European Union, recognizing the importance of continued reforms necessary to achieve that end. The presidents emphasized the importance of Ukraine's distinctive partnership with NATO and agreed to work to deepen Ukraine's cooperation with the Atlantic Alliance. They expressed support for their military cooperation in KFOR, where American and Ukrainian soldiers are working to bring peace and security to Kosovo.

President Clinton and President Kuchma praised the success of U.S.-Ukraine cooperation in the area of commercial space launch services, particularly through the Sea Launch Consortium. They announced that the U.S.-Ukraine Commercial Space Launch Agreement of 1996 had been terminated, noting that this bold step will allow U.S. firms and their Ukrainian partners to enter into commercial space launch ventures unfettered by quantity restrictions. The presidents committed to strengthening commercial relationships between their two countries' aerospace firms because of Ukraine's progress in restructuring the space sector, its ongoing commitment to market-based principles embodied in the agreement, and to its strong adherence to our shared non-proliferation goals. The presidents affirmed their commitment to increase support for small and medium private enterprise development in Ukraine. President Clinton announced plans to establish a new micro-enterprise credit program in Ukraine, which will draw upon the successful Fundusz Mikro program in Poland, and to initiate a five-year $25 million program to support small and medium enterprise development. President Kuchma affirmed that the Ukrainian government will ensure as soon as possible the necessary legal and regulatory framework for the new micro-credit program.

The presidents declared their continued determination to support the creation of a business and investment climate in Ukraine that will facilitate expanded trade and investment opportunities between their two countries. They welcomed initial steps toward privatizing the energy sector in Ukraine and the entry into force of the U.S.-Ukraine Treaty on Double Taxation. The presidents pledged to work together to support steps to advance their shared goal of WTO accession for Ukraine as soon as possible. In this context, they affirmed their intention to implement the U.S.-Ukraine Joint Action Plan to Combat Optical Media Piracy in Ukraine and welcomed the Ukrainian government's suspension of the operations of pirate production facilities in Ukraine until the conditions for ensuring legal production are created. President Clinton welcomed Ukraine's progress toward achieving normal trade relations with the United States on a permanent and unconditional basis. President Clinton encouraged Ukraine to continue with reforms that would allow it to achieve market economy status.

President Kuchma emphasized the priority importance for Ukraine to combat corruption in order to strengthen a democratic society and market-oriented economy. In this regard, the Presidents welcomed the Program of U.S.-Ukrainian Cooperation for Combating Corruption and Organized Crime. The presidents recommitted themselves to strengthening efforts between the United States and Ukraine to combat the problem of trafficking in human beings. They welcomed the June 21-23 workshop in Kyiv co-sponsored by the two governments.

As a new century begins, the presidents affirmed that through their strategic partnership, the United States will support Ukraine's efforts to take its place among an undivided Euro-Atlantic community of free and stable states. Ukraine will, at the same time, continue to implement its democratic and market transformation, thus contributing to Euro-Atlantic security.

Signed in Kyiv, June 5, 2000, in the English and Ukrainian languages.

For Ukraine:
Signature of the president of Ukraine
Leonid Kuchma

For the United States of America:
Signature of the president of the United States of America
William Clinton

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