Within the framework of the working trip to Odesa region on June 3 Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Kostyantyn Gryshchenko delivered a speech at the National University “Odesa Law Academy”.
The meeting was attended by rectors of Odesa higher educational institutions, representatives the diplomatic corps, students and academics of the Odesa Law Academy and the National Academy named after I.Mechnikov.
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister addressed the audience with the speech “Foreign Policy of Ukraine: Five Reasons to Be Optimistic”, in which he outlined the foreign policy priorities and five reasons for “the optimistic look into the future”.
“The first reason is the successful progress of the European integration of Ukraine. For the first time over many years Ukraine and the European Union negotiate not on abstraction things, but on real approachment first of all in economic and visa-free dialogue”, Gryshchenko said, underlying that “the obvious progress in relations with the EU has become possible after the European Union saw that Ukraine started practical transformations. We not just promise to adopt European laws in spirit and letter, but really adopt them”. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine expressed his conviction that “interestedness in Ukraine, permanent progress in one’s development and the support on the part of our European friends, first of all of Poland – are the prerequisites to become a full-fledged member of the European Union”.
The second reason for the optimism, in K.Gryshchenko’s opinion, is the renewal of partnership relations with the Russian Federation”, he said. The Foreign Minister particularly stressed that “Russia is a strategic partner; it is a country, friendship with which cannot be a small change; it is an integral and priceless part of the integral Europe, the development of which is one of the targets of Ukraine”. The Ukrainian topmost diplomat noted that relations between Ukraine and Russia cannot include subordination, jealousy or arrogance. “Mutual respect, understanding and tolerance can only bring our relations to the high level, much expected and demanded by our peoples”, K.Gryshchenko said.
The new contents of strategic relations with the United States of America and useful for Ukraine partnership is the third reason for the optimism. “Fundamental interests of Ukraine and the United States coincide – more contacts at all levels, more democracy, more security, including nuclear safety, more strategic economic cooperation”, the Minister stressed.
K.Gryshchenko sounded confident that “both countries not only speak, but only hear the arguments of each other”.
The fourth reason, according to K.Gryshchenko is the tone of the dialogue with the People’s Republic of China, which is the mainstream direction of the foreign policy of Ukraine. “Ukraine strives during a short period of time to make an economic breakthrough into a new epoch. China has already implemented this breakthrough and strives for new heights. Through the partnership synergy we will sooner achieve these goals”, the Minister underscored in his speech.
The Black Sea synergy of Ukraine, which is an integral part of Strategic priorities of Foreign Policy of Ukraine by 2020, is the final aspect of priorities mentioned by the Minister in his speech. “It is the unique complex of multidimensional trade, energy, transportation and humanitarian ties”, Mr Gryshchenko said, having stressed that “the role of Ukraine is becoming a locomotive of the European integration in the Black Sea region”. In that connection G.Gryshchenko also gave an assessment of the state and prospects of relations of Ukraine with such countries of the Black Sea region as Turkey, Moldova and Romania.
After the speech the Minister answered numerous questions of the participants of the gathering.