No free Europe without free Ukraine

Former Polish President Kwaśniewski ends EBRD Annual Meeting with passionate plea for further European integration. No disrespect to the Ukraine’s corps diplomatique, but the country’s arguably best ambassador is a foreigner: The former President of Poland, Aleksander Kwaśniewski, ended the EBRD Annual Meeting 2008 in Kiev with a passionate plea for the full integration of Ukraine into European structures. Delivering the traditional Jacques de Larosière-Lecture he said: “Our President Piłsudski once said: No free Poland without a free Ukraine. 90 years on the same is true for all Europe.” 

Ukraine’s history, culture, society and geography make the country an integral part of Europe, Kwaśniewski argued. The success of transformation in Ukraine “is crucial for the success of the whole region.” A country with 50 million people and the huge potential of Ukraine must not fail in its efforts to reform its political, economic and social structure. “If transformation fails in Ukraine this will have a catastrophic impact for the whole region”, Kwaśniewski said.

Yet dangers exist, and there is probably not a single other politician in the world who is allowed to read Ukraine’s leaders the riot act and get away with it. After all, he is the man who played a crucial role in managing the peaceful regime change in 2004. If the “Orange Revolution” had a midwife it was the former President of Poland.

Four years on, Kwaśniewski is looking at was has been achieved since - not, it seems, with unlimited delight. In a stern warning he called on all political leaders to overcome divisions and work together for the common good: “This country has such important goals. How will they ever be achieved if all major political forces do not work together at least on these issues?”

But if Kwaśniewski left no doubt that Ukraine still has a long way to go, he also sees an obligation on the side of Europe to keep the door open for the country. “It is for Ukraine to decide what it wants. But it is clear that the willingness to reform is strongly connected to Europe’s willingness to invite Ukraine.” Both sides are shouldering a heavy responsibility: “If democracy fails in Ukraine, some people might think an alternative model with a state-controlled democracy is an attractive model.”

Kwaśniewski’s passionate plea was the last event at this year’s Annual Meeting which was also President Jean Lemierre’s last such event as head of the EBRD. In very warm words Kwaśniewski joined the Governors in their praise for the President’s achievements: “Your passion made the Bank’s success possible”, Kwaśniewski said. He welcomed him “to soon join me in the club of former presidents.”

The Board of Governors at the Annual Meeting took an important decision for the future of the Bank. The shareholder countries agreed on the net income allocation, the future approach towards Turkey and appointed Thomas Mirow as new President. Only a few moments later he attended the traditional closing press conference together with Lemierre. Also here the departing head of the EBRD received warm words of appreciation from the media despite his confession: “I hope I have not always answered your questions.”

By Axel Reiserer
http://www.ebrd.com/new/stories/2008/080519f.htm