Washington Charter on Strategic Partnership confirms guarantees of Ukraine's security, says U.S. ambassador

14:05

The U.S.-Ukraine Charter on Strategic Partnership signed in Washington on December 19 confirms guarantees of Ukraine's security, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor has said.

The first section of the charter says that the support for each other's sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders constitutes the foundation of the bilateral relations, he said in an interview with the Mirror of the Week Newspaper, while commenting on the key clauses of the Washington Charter.

He said that the new document confirms the importance of the security assurances described in the Trilateral Statement by the Presidents of the U.S., Russian Federation and Ukraine of January 14, 1994, and the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances in connection with Ukraine's accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons of December 5, 1994.

When asked, whether the Charter stipulates for the military assistance of the United States in case of the violation of Ukraine's borders by another state, Taylor said "No." The Charter doesn't oblige any of the parties to provide the military assistance, he said adding that guarantees of such kind are subject to approval by the Congress.

At the same time, he stressed that the Washington Charter does envisage the reaction of the United States to the possible violation of Ukrainian borders.

"The Charter once again confirms the principles of the Budapest memorandum: if the borders are violated, we will meet and discuss our further steps," the ambassador said.

According to Taylor, the second section of the charter is dedicated to defense and security cooperation. The both countries are interested in a strong, independent, and democratic Ukraine. Deepening of Ukraine's integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions is a mutual priority. This section affirms that Ukraine will become a NATO member, the ambassador said.

The goal of working within the framework of the NATO-Ukraine Commission is to gain agreement on a structured plan to increase interoperability and coordination of capabilities between NATO and Ukraine, including via enhanced training and equipment for Ukrainian armed forces, Taylor said.

He also said that the defense agencies of the two states were negotiating the categories of equipment to be supplied to Ukraine. No final decision has been taken yet, Taylor said adding that Ukrainian Defense Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov and US Defense Secretary Robert Gates were discussing the transition of one to three U.S. naval frigates to Ukraine.

The third section of the Charter sets out the guidelines for trade and energy cooperation, the fourth one is dedicated to strengthening democracy, and the fourth section stipulates for increasing people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

20.12.2008