Remarks by
Ambassador William B. Taylor
Following his Presentation of Credentials
Kyiv, Ukraine
June 21, 2006
Ambassador Taylor: Good day (in Ukrainian). I'm very glad to be here with you today. I hope sometime while I am here that I will be able to address you in Ukrainian. But I'm still learning and until then my friend Vadim will give us a hand.
I am extremely honored to be here and to be, as Brent says, the sixth Ambassador in Ukraine from the United States. And I'm very glad to be back in Ukraine. I've spent some time here in an earlier job. I've visited here during the 90s and in the year 2000 as coordinator of assistance coming into Ukraine and as such, met a lot of people that I've gotten to see again over the past week. And I'm very eager to get out around this country. I'm impressed every time that I see the extent of the country, of the people, of the issues, and I really want to get to the north and south and east and west and spend a lot of time with Ukrainians of all kinds.
When I was here before, I learned a whole lot from people here in Ukraine and I hope to do exactly that here. I hope to have a dialogue with Ukrainians. It certainly will not be a monologue.
This is an exciting time, certainly for me, but also for Ukraine. Here I am at the time when the government is being formed. The United States is about to provide an additional grant of funds, about $45 million, for a new program to work on anti-corruption programs. There are other discussions going on on Ukrainian membership in things like the World Trade Organization. I'm very glad to be here at the time that Ukraine is doing so well in the World Cup. It was a great game the other night and we wish Ukraine all the success in the next game.
In short, I'm really looking forward to learning from you. I hope to -- I'm eager to -- get your questions. I would like to meet with you in various different formats and learn what your questions are and if I could ask you some questions at some point that would be good for me. And I'd be very glad to take your questions.
Question (in English): What are main directions of your activity, of your future activity, in Ukraine? I mean economical aspects, maybe military aspects or something like that. Thank you.
Ambassador Taylor: Thank you. I'm here to support what Ukraine would like to do. I'm here to support the directions that the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian government would like to take. The United States has made it clear in its support for Ukraine -- in particular over the past year and a half since a year ago November -- that we are very supportive of democracy here in Ukraine and look forward to supporting that -- to continuing to support that -- in the future.
On the economic front, I've mentioned the World Trade Organization which would be a great thing, I believe, for the economy of Ukraine and its trade relations around the world -- and investment coming into Ukraine, jobs being formed, jobs being created, people's income going up. That has great potential. The U.S. has provided a large amount of economic assistance as well for Ukraine, and we hope to continue to do that.
We in the United States think that if Ukraine succeeds as a democratic country in this part of the world that that's good for Ukraine and it's very good for the United States as well.
Question (in Ukrainian): What is your view of the political developments in Ukraine and, in particular, on the formation of the coalition?
Ambassador Taylor: We are watching the coalition formation very carefully. We listened to the discussions in the Rada this morning. We are very eager to get to work with the new the government -- with the new coalition government, the Cabinet, and the new Rada. It's taken a long time, as every one in this room knows very well, to get that government. It sounds like they're very close. We will work with whichever government is formed out of these coalition discussions that are going on today and almost done now.
Question (in English): You are well known as international crisis manager. Does that mean that Washington right now feels that the situation in Ukraine rise some kind of crisis? And can we expect for the support from the United States, from Washington, ahead of some issues with Russia -- I mean gas and NATO?
Ambassador Taylor: No, the United States does not expect a crisis here in Ukraine. It is true that I did spend some time in Afghanistan and Iraq. I also most recently spent about 8 months in Jerusalem. And, I guess, they figured in Washington that I had paid my dues in difficult places so they were going to send me to a good place this time so they sent me to Ukraine.
On your question about support for Ukraine, the answer is, of course, yes. We will support the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian government as is good for them and is good for us.
We do have assistance programs that are in progress. And we can provide, I think, strong political support for Ukraine in the international community.
Question (in Russian): Ambassador Taylor, the recent extremists' rallies in Feodosiya, although they did not end in outright violence, but American equipment reportedly has suffered. It was stolen, in part at least. So far Ukraine was not viewed as a terrorist-ridden country -- as a country suffering from terrorism -- but is the United States going to support anti-terrorist activities in Ukraine in the context of the acts of terrorism and the media?
Ambassador Taylor: Of course, we were very careful to observe and participate in the activities down in Feodosiya. And we were disappointed that we were not able to do there -- to construct there -- the buildings and the football fields and the training facilities that we had hoped to construct. There was as fair amount of money that was to have been spent in Crimea as associated with that exercise, both in hiring people and buying things. So there probably was a loss for some people in the Crimea for us having not been able to complete those projects. We haven't heard of any equipment being lost or stolen or damaged.
We do look forward to a broader conversation, as I mentioned earlier. I think that a more open dialogue between Americans and Ukrainians, among Ukrainians, about those kinds of exercises. It would be a very good thing. Our sense was that there was a lot of misunderstanding in Feodosiya and in surrounding areas about what was going on and had people understood a little better about the kind of positive things that we were hoping to do, we might have had a little different outcome. But we are still looking forward to moving forward on those kinds of exercises.
Question (in Russian): I'd asked the question about media and terrorism. Will you support anti-terrorist activities in Ukraine in the context of terrorism and media relationship?
Ambassador Taylor: The United States, as you know, is eager to push back on terrorism wherever we find it. All of our efforts around the world right now are very focused on the fight against terrorism. And we will work very closely with the government of Ukraine -- the security authorities, the military authorities, the defense authorities of Ukraine -- in this fight, because Ukraine is a part of that fight, is an ally in that fight, against terrorism.
Question (in Ukrainian): Do you plan to take any steps to decrease the anti-NATO sentiments in Crimea and around the country in general. And I'm asking because I read reports about your remarks on supporting Ukraine's accession to NATO.
Ambassador Taylor: I support the government of Ukraine's interest and desire to draw closer to NATO. If the people of Ukraine and if the government of Ukraine, if they decide that they interested in becoming a member of NATO, the United States government will be glad to help them. This will be an important decision for the people of Ukraine to make. One of the things I hope we can do would be to sponsor discussions, dialogues, conferences, roundtables, where Ukrainians and others can have a conversation about the good things and the bad things about joining NATO. So, if the Ukrainian people decide, we would be glad to help. We want to help with that discussion -- that informed discussion -- and then if that is the decision of the Ukrainian people. Then we will certainly be supportive.
Question (in Ukrainian): When is the visit by President Bush to Ukraine expected now?
Ambassador Taylor: President Bush would very much like to visit Ukraine. And he has been -- like all of us -- waiting for the government to be formed. When the government is formed -- and we hope that is very soon -- then we will be able to have this discussion about the exact time.
Question (in English): Vice President Cheney was fairly uncompromising in a speech in Vilnius last month about saying that he would take measures or do what he could to act against Russia using gas and the sale of gas as a tool of blackmail. Is the United States prepared to act in this similar vein in Ukraine? Will there be -- to follow-up on my colleague's question -- some move to ensure that Ukraine's interests are safeguarded in discussions with Russia?
Ambassador Taylor: In the first instance, of course, the discussions between Russia and Ukraine about all issues, but including gas issues are of interest to the rest of the world, but they are principally to be discussed by Russians and Ukrainians.
Ukraine being a very large transit country -- indeed, people have told me that Ukraine is the largest transporter or transit country of hydro-carbons in the world -- it bears a responsibility and some opportunities associated with that transit. The Europeans, of course, are the recipients of that gas being transited across Ukraine and we are in close contact with them. And that kind of political support on this continent, and conversations with a range of people and a range of countries and range of organizations that are associated with that gas contract, are the kinds of support that we hope to be able to provide, if the government of Ukraine would find that useful from us.
Question (in Ukrainian): Do you think that events on Feodosiya will some how impact the prospects of Ukraine's integration with NATO?
Ambassador Taylor: I don't think it will. I think that, again, as information is broadcast, is developed, as people understand the issues, I think the Ukrainian people will take a careful look and an informed look about their relations with NATO and other Euro-Atlantic organizations. The exercise that was shortened, that was reduced, is still going on. So that is an indication that it has not had a damaging effect on that relationship.
Question (in Ukrainian): Your predecessors left you a heritage of a not concluded, not negotiated, treaty on extradition between the United States and Ukraine. Do you think your tour of duty will permit to resolve this issue?
Ambassador Taylor: Let me first say how much I appreciate the work of my predecessors. When I was sworn in in Washington, before coming out here, four of the five predecessors were present at that swearing in. And they were all very jealous of me being able to come back out to Kyiv and to Ukraine.
Now on this question of the extradition treaty. I will have to do some research on that because I don't know the answer to how quickly or where that is in the process, but I will find out. And if we have another one of these conversations sometime in the near future, I will try to have you an answer.
Question (in English): Let me phrase the question this way. If Ukrainians reject NATO in a referendum, will the U.S. be disappointed with such a result?
Ambassador Taylor: I'm always going to try to be very responsive to all of your questions. But it's going to be hard for me to answer this particular question because the referendum is likely to be in a year or two or three. And again, this is a decision for the Ukrainian people. This is not a decision for Americans. It is, however, also a decision for some other allies in NATO. The NATO allies will have views about new members. But as we get closer to that referendum, I will be very glad to answer your question.
Question (in Ukrainian): Would the presence of the Russian Navy based in Crimea be an obstacle to Ukraine's membership in NATO?
Ambassador Taylor: No, it would not. As you know, the Russian government and NATO have a very robust relationship. And so the presence of Russian forces -- Russian Naval forces -- in Crimea is an issue for the Russian and Ukrainian governments to decide. But I don't think it will be a major problem.
Question (in Ukrainian): Mr. Ambassador, you said that you are going to travel around the country and meet people. Hence my question, where would you go first? East or west?
Ambassador Taylor: This is a hard question. I actually may go south. There should be no political significance associated with any of my trips because I do intend to go across the country. And I'm very much looking forward to being in the east and the west, as well as the south.
Question (in Ukrainian): We have some report that yesterday Vice President Cheney had a phone conversation with President Yushchenko and that helped to move things with the coalition. Can you confirm or deny that such conversation took place?
Ambassador Taylor: I can tell you that I have no information about any phone call between President Yushchenko and Vice President Cheney. I understand that there might be a phone conversation some time after the coalition is formed and it's clearly formed. But I have no knowledge -- no information --and suspect that that phone call did not take place.
Question (in Russian): What are the principles of U.S. policies to fight terrorism and how would you comment on some statements -- on erroneous statements -- that fighting terrorism is fighting Islamic dictatorship or tyranny?
Ambassador Taylor: As I've mentioned before, I have some experience both in Afghanistan and Iraq. In Afghanistan, I think it is very easy to describe and justify our military action in that country. The attack on the United States in September 2001 was clearly directed straight from Afghanistan. In Iraq, it is a very difficult situation that we hope is getting a little bit better. And the terrorists in Iraq -- fighting both Americans, Brits, British soldiers, Ukrainian soldiers for a while, of course -- were clearly designed, clearly motivated to destroy the emerging democracy that we hope will come out of Iraq. Our principle is that a democratic government with a growing economy can serve the people of Afghanistan or Iraq as well as other countries around the world, and that will be the best defense against terrorism.
Question (in Ukrainian): Still do you have a guess why Washington sent you, a person with military education and a person with experience in the so-called hot spots. Aren't you a part of a certain military strategy of the United States?
Ambassador Taylor: I can assure you. I am not a part of any military strategy. I did serve in our military -- like many of you have served in the Ukrainian military -- when I was just out of college, out of the military academy. And to show you how long ago my military service was, I served in Vietnam in 1970. That was a long time ago. Since then, I've been to graduate school. I've worked in the Energy Department. I've worked in the State Department in some difficult places, as you say, and I am sure that Ukraine is a reward for having served in difficult places. And I'm very, very, glad to be here.
Question (in Ukrainian): Your predecessor called the gas agreement between Ukraine and Russia -- under which RosUkrEnergo became the sole supplier for gas -- hard to understand and to be a shady agreement. Within the last six months, there were a lot of opinions in respectable Western press that Ukraine should sever this contract with Russia. Will you suggest to the Ukrainian government to do this? Or will you wait for the initiative from the Ukrainian government in this respect?
Ambassador Taylor: I will clearly wait for the initiative of the Ukrainian government. We do have difficulty understanding the role of RUE in this agreement that was agreed on January 4. Our general advice is that openness and transparency in contracting is the best policy for all countries. We think that if the government of Ukraine decides to reconsider that that they will look for advice from experts -- international experts, as well as Ukrainian experts. And we will be glad to help in that regard and also provide assistance on making the factories and other users -- large users -- of natural gas more efficient. So if the government does decide, we'll be glad to help.
Thank you all very much. I hope I can do this again with you. I hope the second time there is equal interest as this first time, and I look forward to having that opportunity very soon.
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