You're reading: Ukraine’s new NATO mission head upbeat on ties with alliance

The newly appointed Head of Ukrainian Mission to NATO, Ambassador Ihor Dolhov believes that there are reasons to believe Ukraine will figure in NATO's new strategic concept.

"There are no reasons for expecting that NATO would reconsider the status of its relations with Ukraine. Moreover, there are reasons for saying that Ukraine will appear in NATO’s new strategic concept. There is no doubt that Ukraine will remain an important partner for the alliance," he told Ukrainian reporters in Brussels, while commenting on development prospects for bilateral relations.

Dolhov explained that since Ukraine has legally declared its non-aligned status "the state’s national security interests require that other players in Europe and [NATO] take into consideration its non-aligned status in their visions and approaches.

"The position of states that have not joined and do not intend to join any defense structures, in this defense architecture, should be considered separately in view of this status. To me, as the official representative of Ukraine in NATO, it is obvious that role of the alliance and its future new strategic vision are important to Ukraine, for national the interests of our state as a non-aligned state," the Ukrainian ambassador said.

He said he was also convinced that Ukraine had lost none of its ambition in its relations with the alliance.

"I do not see a reduction of ambitions, although the rhetoric changed. President Viktor Yanukovych has directed me and the Foreign Ministry towards achieving practical results in relations with the European Union and NATO. We [already] have a practical result, and I hope it will continue improving," Dolhov said.

With regard to the tasks given to him, the head of the mission replied that these tasks are stipulated in a letter signed by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kostiantyn Hryschenko addressed to Secretary General of NATO Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

"They are absolutely precise, short and clear – support and strengthen the strategic partnership with NATO," the Ukrainian diplomat said.

Asked whether Ukraine’s Annual National Program with NATO would undergo changes, the head of the mission answered that work had been started on this document.

"According to our own, and our NATO colleagues’ evaluation, this program is an effective and powerful tool. If the tool is effective why should we change it? We can only improve it," he said.

Dolhov also said that a commission would visit Ukraine at the end of October to evaluate this year’s Annual National Program.

"We have every reason to believe that NATO’s representatives will positively evaluate everything we have done and will do by the end of this year. That is why we are to continue working on the basis of the Annual National Program. As for the formats and quantity of events, and so on, I discussed this issue with the secretary general. We agreed, and NATO supported, that all of the formats that have been created and that are working should continue to be used," he said.