Editor’s Note: Olena Tregub, a freelance contributor to the Kyiv Post, conducted a series of interviews with German experts on Ukraine. The following is one of them.
Viola von Cramon has been a Member of the German Parliament Bundestag since 2009, and is the Green Party faction’s speaker on foreign relations of the European Union. Von Cramon is also member of the Parliamentary Assemblies of the OSCE and Council of Europe.
KP: How would you assess the results of President Viktor Yanukovych’s first year of presidency in comparison to those of the previous Orange Revolution leadership of ex-President Viktor Yushchenko and ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko?
VC: We appreciate that Yanukovych adheres to the European dimension. But we are very much concerned about the changes to the constitution, about the conduct of the regional and local elections in October 2010, as well as about the fact that the Ukrainian parliament has lost its significance. The current systematic destruction of the political opposition must be stopped. We are also critical of the worsening situation with respect to the freedom of mass media.
KP: Should the EU use the association agreement, Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement and visa-free regime negotiations as a leverage and conditionality factor to promote political and other reforms in Ukraine, or should these agreements be signed as soon as possible?
VC: The negotiations concerning a comprehensive free trade agreement are ongoing; but we have to remind Yanukovych and Prime Minister Mykola Azarov that sticking to democratic values is very important if one wants to have closer connections with Ukraine’s Western neighbors. One should not punish though the people for their government. It is in our interest to open up Ukraine and to give Ukrainians the possibility to travel and to make their experiences in other countries. The negotiations should be continued and the association agreement should be signed when all obligations are met – hopefully at the end of this year.From the European perspective, it should be important not to spend too much effort on technical details, but rather to look at the political situation in general and try to push for a more democratic direction of Ukraine’s development.
KP: Could and should the current pro-Russian German position be replaced by a pro-Ukrainian position? To which degree may domestic political changes in Germany play a role for its future Eastern policy positions?
VC: I think that the German policy towards Eastern Europe should be reformed in such a way that our bilateral relations with Ukraine are seen as a policy strategy of its own, and as separate from our relations to Russia. Ukraine is the second largest country in Europe, a direct and a strong neighbor of the EU. Therefore, there should be a consistent policy conducted towards our Eastern neighbors. I hope that my party can increase its influence after the next federal elections of 2013. We are not looking only or primarily at economic interests. Instead, we have to keep in mind the situation with human rights and democratic freedoms, and of women. With respect to our Eastern neighbors, we very strongly support the Civil Society Forum of the European Union’s Eastern Partnership.
KP: Do you have any specific advice for the Ukrainian government to change Ukraine’s image in Germany for the better, and improve Ukraine’s attractiveness for German investors?
VC: Rule of law is the key word. Ukraine could be very attractive for German investors, especially in the agricultural or processing sectors. But if the rules are being changed – as they were last year during the crop period – Ukraine is less interesting for investors in general. It is necessary to have a long term perspective, a reliable legal system. Fighting corruption effectively and decreasing the influence of the oligarchs in politics is another important point.
KP: Did the decision of Yanukovych to prosecute the former President Leonid Kuchma for the murder of a journalist add credibility to the current government and improve its image in the West? What are your expectations about how this case should be resolved?
VC: I think this decision was appreciated in the West. But in my opinion it is even more important how Yanukovych is dealing with the politicians of the opposition who are mostly also former members of government and who are in large numbers prosecuted right now. This kind of selective justice is very harmful for the credibility of Ukraine.
KP: Do you think Ukraine will ever enter the EU, and, if so, under which conditions and when approximately?
VC: Of course, I think it will be possible for Ukraine to enter the EU, but obviously not in the near future.
KP: Do you think Tymoshenko’s arrest will affect the signing of association agreement between Ukraine and the EU?
VC: Ukraine should finish this selective use of law. Ukraine really has the potential of cooperating with the EU closely, but democratic principles must be respected.
Olena Tregub is a freelance journalist who contributes regularly to the Kyiv Post.
