Germany's ambassador to Canada comments on Ukraine's integration into Europe (10/20/02)

Germany's ambassador to Canada comments on Ukraine's integration into Europe

by Roman Zakaluzny
Special to The Ukrainian Weekly

OTTAWA - German Ambassador to Canada Christian Pauls set the tone for his lecture early, with an analogy. According to Mr. Pauls, North Americans tend to pressure the European Union to admit new members as speedily as possible. For them, Ambassador Pauls had the following reply: "Yeah, once Mexico becomes the 51st state."

Such was the nature of Mr. Paul's speech, titled "Ukraine and European Integration," held at the University of Ottawa on September 25. This was the fourth in the Ambassador Lecture Series, organized by the Chair of Ukrainian Studies. Ambassador Pauls, a career diplomat, was the featured speaker for the approximately 50 people who came.

Mr. Pauls spent the evening clarifying Germany's position on EU expansion, and telling Ukrainian Canadians that their country still has a long way to go before the EU would beckon.

"We are tied through the wars which Germany waged on Ukraine in the last century," began Ambassador Pauls. "Ukraine, as such, holds a special part in German foreign policy."

The question on most attendees' minds, however, was whether that special place included a spot at the next EU enlargement talks. They learned that Ukraine still has many sacrifices to make, and that it must change how it handles domestic politics in the corruption-ridden land.

"We are going to assist Eastern Europe more this decade than we did in the last decade," said Mr. Pauls. "With Ukraine, [democratization] has not come easily, especially domestically. We have told Kyiv this numerous times."

"Where is Poland after 10 years?" continued the envoy. "They have turned the corner. It wasn't easy for them, and they have paid a price."

Poland, most experts agree, will join the EU in 2004. Ukraine, according to Ambassador Pauls, is "years away."

"[Ukraine] has no working market economy." ... "But something will happen," Mr. Pauls said. "And it will be in stages."

He sees Ukraine first joining a European "free trade area." Only afterwards will full membership, with all its guarantees of economic and political equality with the other member-states, be considered.

"We will not drop Ukraine," said Ambassador Pauls, "but there will remain a certain distance between us if we do not see progress."

He added that Ukraine suffers from uncontrolled emigration and organized crime flowing across its western borders into Europe. Steps need to be taken to combat these problems, the envoy said. He also wants to see cooperation with the EU in transportation, communication, science, the arts, the environment and the legal system.

One questioner asked if Ukraine's chances for membership were hurt when it was accused the previous day by the United States of selling Kolchuha radar systems to Iraq.

"These [scandals] are flashpoints," replied the ambassador. "Although these aren't reasons [in and of themselves that] Ukraine cannot join the EU, they do contribute."

Another attendee speculated that if Ukraine were allowed to sell its wheat to the EU without incurring stiff import tariffs, it wouldn't be tempted to sell products to Iraq to increase foreign currency Mr. Pauls agreed.

"You are completely right. The EU has not been fair with its neighbors on world markets. A number of us are upset with the agrarian policies of some of our members," he replied.

Although the diplomat would not name the states he was referring to, Ambassador Pauls did say that he hoped to get rid of such policies, supported by France and others, by 2006.

"These are domestic inconsistencies which have to be addressed," explained Mr. Pauls. "But, as you know, domestic policy is very difficult to have changed."

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