Foreign Secretary William Hague meets Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara
Page 2
also in this issue:
Ukraine’s Ambassador spoke at «The Future of the European Union» Page 3
Ukrainian conductor Karabits wins top UK national award Page 5
Ukrainian products presented at the charity fair in London Page 6
Ukraine Digest, Thursday, May 16, 2013
Page 2
foreign affairs
European Commission proposes signing Association Agreement with Ukraine in November
T
HE EUROPEAN Commission is launching technical preparations for the possible signing of the Association Agreement with Ukraine, including the creation of a deep and comprehensive free trade area, at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius this November. Such a decision was approved on Wednesday by
K
a panel of members of the European Commission. “Without prejudice to a future political decision on possible signature, the [European] Commission adopted today the proposals for [EU] Council decisions on the signing and provisional application as well as the conclusion of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, which will be transmitted to the Council
YIV AND LONDON have agreed that the political association and economic integration of Ukraine with the EU will offer significant opportunities for both Ukraine and the EU. This is stated in a joint statement made after a meeting between Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara and British Foreign Secretary William Hague. “We agreed that the political association and economic integration of Ukraine with the EU will offer significant opportunities for both the EU and Ukraine, and make an important contribution to the prosperity and security of their citizens,” reads the statement.
for further processing,” the European Commission said in a statement. According to the statement, with today’s decision, the EU is taking a necessary preparatory step in order to be technically ready for the possible signing of the Association Agreement (including its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area - DCFTA) at the Eastern Partnership Summit in
Vilnius in six months from now. “Before authorizing signature, Member States must be allowed sufficient time for their internal procedures, including consulting of national parliaments. Taken into consideration the length and complexity of the Agreement, this process will take a minimum of six months,” reads the statement.
Britain agrees that association is beneficial for Ukraine and EU The statement says that the UK continues to believe strongly that Ukraine belongs to the European family of states and reaffirmed its support for Ukraine’s efforts to make the necessary reforms to allow signature of the mutually beneficial EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. In that context, the sides talked about how the UK might support Ukraine’s reform efforts, in particular, how to strengthen Ukraine’s judicial and legislative institutions in line with European values and practices. “We looked forward to working together to make the 3rd Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius a success,” Kozhara and Hague said.
The joint statement also notes that the parties discussed how the UK and Ukraine might work together more closely to deliver the objectives of the OSCE. “The current Ukrainian Chairmanship-in-Office gives us an ideal opportunity to make progress on issues of mutual concern such as the unresolved protracted conflicts within the OSCE’s territory,” reads the document. It also notes that the parties agreed to work together to develop further the trade and investment relationship between the UK and Ukraine. In particular, they agreed on the importance of a “predictable and transparent business climate,” essential for continued foreign investment in Ukraine. www.ukremb.org.uk
Ukraine Digest, Thursday, May 16, 2013
foreign affairs
British MPs support Ukraine’s European aspirations
B
RITISH Members of Parliament have expressed their readiness to support an active dialogue with the Ukrainian authorities on European integration,
Kozhara and members of the House of Lords and the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. “British MPs expressed their readiness to continue an active dialogue with Kyiv on the European integra-
Page 3
Ukraine’s Ambassador spoke at a high-level conference «The Future of the European Union» AMBASSADOR of Ukraine to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Nothern Ireland Volodymyr Khandogiy delivered a speech at a highlevel conference «The Future of the European Union» on May 14, 2013. In the course of the Conference the most acute challenges the EU faces nowadays were widely discussed. Special attention during the discussion was paid to the developing of relations with the EU neighbouring countries, in particular Ukraine. Volodymyr Khandogiy, Ambassador of Ukraine to the UK
the information policy department of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has reported, citing a meeting between Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid
John Whittingdale MP (left): “British-Ukraine All-Party Parliamentary Group supports Ukraine in its determination to sign the Association Agreement with EU and would facilitate Ukraine’s moving forward on this way”
John Whittingdale, Chairman of the British-Ukraine All-Party Parliamentary Group, Leonid Kozhara, Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Lord Risbi, President of the British Ukrainian Society and Volodymyr Khandogiy, Ambassador of Ukraine to the UK
tion of Ukraine,” reads the statement. In particular, Chairman of the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee John Whittingdale said that BritishUkraine All-Party Parliamentary Group which he chairs supports Ukraine in its determination to sign the Association Agreement with EU and would facilitate Ukraine’s moving forward on this way. British Ukrainian Society’s President Lord Risby, in turn, said that Britain would support Ukraine’s European aspirations. The sides also exchanged views on the current state and prospects of Ukraine-UK bilateral dialogue, including the strengthening of cooperation between the both states’ parliaments.
“Signing the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU will demonstrate the effectiveness of the EU Neighbourhood Policy”
In his speech during the EU Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) panel, Ambassador Khandogiy underlined that the Eastern Partnership initiative launched in the framework of the ENP is a powerful supporting tool which could bring Ukraine and other Eastern European countries closer to the EU and assist in implementing reforms on the basis of mutual responsibility of the EU neighbours and the member-states. Ambassador Khandogiy also emphasised the strategic importance of signing the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU at the Vilnius Eastern Partnership Summit in November 2013. “This will demonstrate the Summit’s success and the effectiveness of the EU Neighbourhood Policy in general” – the Ambassador summed up. The event was organised by Global Diplomatic Forum political science think-tank in co-operation with the Information Office of the European Parliament in London. www.ukremb.org.uk
Ukraine Digest, Thursday, May 16, 2013
Ukraine to join Top 3 world leading exporters of corn
agriculture
Ukraine supplies corn to Great Britain
G
REAT BRITAIN imported 164,200 tons of corn in March, which is almost twofold up against March last year. Main suppliers of corn to Great Britain were Ukraine (82,100 tons) and France (47,900 tons). Those data are cited by ZernoOnline with reference to the Home Grown Cereals Authority in Great Britain. “Since July 2012 and until March
2013, 1.276 million tons of corn was imported, including from France 391,200 tons, Ukraine - 387,200 tons, Poland - 169,300 tons. Russia exported 27,500 tons of corn to Great Britain,” the publication reads. Over this same period of the previous season, Great Britain imported 734,300 tons of corn, including 433,500 tons from France. Import of Ukrainian corn made up only 3,200 tons.
energy
Shale gas to make Ukraine a powerful player on energy market
U
KRAINE and Poland are likely to spearhead Europe regarding shale gas production by 2035, reported the global consulting company A.T. Kearney. In part, the two Eastern European countries will lead the region thanks to the present political support. Notably, Europe possesses close to seven percent of world shale gas supplies. A.T. Kearney expects shale gas production in the region to reach 58 billion cubic meters by 2035, which is well over 12 percent of the total gas consumed by the EU in 2011. By that time the shale gas extraction in Europe should account for 45 percent of the total gas production in the region, with the exception of Norway.
Page 4
Ukraine, Poland - future European leaders in shale gas production
Ukraine’s shale gas deposits of 1.2 trillion cubic meters, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, are the third largest in Europe. The country’s shale gas pools are recoverable and environmentally friendly, and they can serve as an energy source for Europe and the world’s population in the future. On January 24, Shell signed the 50year contract, the biggest contract to tap
THE MAJOR GRAIN exporters, among them Ukraine, will show double-digit growth rates in the production and export of food and feed wheat and corn this year. In the production of corn (+24%, 26 million tons) Ukraine will rise by two lines - from eighth to sixth, and in the production of coarse grains (+17%, 34.5 million tons) by one line (from eighth to seventh). By the export of corn and forage Ukraine this season will join the three world leaders, surpassing Argentina and Brazil, the report says. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) forecasts that global grain harvest this season promises to be much better than in the previous year, when crops were affected by drought. USDA expects a growth in the production of almost all major crops by 7-13%. Ukraine will be able to boast of a much greater dynamic. The overall picture for Ukraine this year was not spoiled even by the abnormal snowfall in March - its effect was offset by favorable weather conditions for planting and expansion of arable land. Wheat harvest in Ukraine will grow, as predicted by USDA, 40% to 22 million tons. According to this index, the country will stay in the ninth place in the world. shale gas in Europe so far. The deal was reported to be worth USD 10 billion. Shell won the right to explore Yuzivske gas field in Eastern Ukraine in May 2012. In August 2012, Shell, ExxonMobil, Romanian OMV Petrom, and Ukrainian state company Nadra received joint rights to develop underwater deposits at Ukrainian deep marine shelf field under the Black Sea. Ukrainian government is investing extra efforts into diversifying its energy sources, especially exploring domestic gas reserves. Reportedly, such efforts may prove effective in gaining independence from expensive Russian gas. www.ukremb.org.uk
Ukraine Digest, Thursday, May 16, 2013
Page 5
music
Conductor Karabits wins top UK national award Ukraine-born Kirill Karabits received the Conductor award at the Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS) Music Awards – the highest recognition for live classical music in the United Kingdom
as the highest recognition for live classical music in the UK. Karabits is now in his fourth season as Principal Conductor of the BSO. This weekend he will lead the orchestra’s 120th anniversary celebrations in a
special concert at the Pavilion and will conduct the opening concert at Pier Approach, Bournemouth’s new open air performance space on the old Imax site on June 29. The conductor was presented with his award by Dame Janet Baker CH and in a heartfelt acceptance speech paid a special tribute to “the wonderful musicians of the BSO”. Dougie Scarfe, the BSO’s Chief Executive, said: “In the week that the BSO is celebrating its 120th anniversary, this award is
place in the forest. Zlata was carried to the stage by a real giant - a native of Vinnytsia region, Ihor Vovkovynsky, who cur-
rently lives in the United States. His height is 2 m 34 cm, and he is recognized as the highest American. According to bookmakers, Ukraine’s representative is one of the three leaders in the competition: the rating is topped by Danish singer Emmelie de Forest, Ognevich is in second place, and the top three is closed by NorweVote for gian singer MarZlata on garet Berger. Saturday,
T
HE PRINCIPAL Conductor of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Kirill Karabits, has won the prestigious 2012 Conductor of the Year award from the Royal Philharmonic Society. The accolade was presented to the 36-year-old at a ceremony in London on Tuesday night. The RPS awards are made for outstanding achievement in classical music and acknowledged
ZLATA AND GIANT IN 2013 EUROVISION SONG CONTEST FINAL
UKRAINIAN singer Zlata Ognevich, who performed in the first semifinal of the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest, with her song “Gravity,” has reached the grand final of the international song contest. The Ukrainian team prepared a show in the style of fantasy. The scenario takes
outstanding recognition of the work that Kirill and the Orchestra continue to do to bring world-class music to the diverse region of the South and South West, as well as its national and international presence.” Kirill Karabits is one of the most exciting conductors of the younger generation. He became Principal Conductor of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in 2009 and the much-praised partnership has recently been extended through to the end of the 2015/16 season. Kirill was born and brought up in Kyiv, attending the National Tchaikovsky Music Academy. Later, he continued his studies in Vienna and Stuttgart and made his first public conducting appearance at the age of 19.
May 18 #22
www.ukremb.org.uk
Ukraine Digest, Thursday, May 16, 2013
cfab 2013
UKRAINIAN PRODUCTS PRESENTED AT THE CHARITY FAIR IN LONDON
CFAB’s International Spring Fair & Food Festival 2013 took place at Kensington and Chelsea Town Hall on 14th-15th May 2013.
E
Page 6
very year over 80 Diplomatic missions take part at the Spring food festival by hosting a stall which sells products and food that are exclusive to their nation. The event is suported by the royal family. The International Spring Fair raises funds for Children and Families Across Borders (CFAB), a UK-based charity and part of the International Social Service network which helps to protect and promote the rights of children and vulnerable adults across international borders.
Ukraine was represented at the event by the stall prepared by the Embassy, where the guests could have bought national crafts and products of our national producers. The most popular among the guests of the fair were the Roshen and Svitoch chocolate, Kolonist and Masandra wines as well as gorilka Prime. The guests of the fair had the possibility to buy exclusive model of the Ruslan plane, made by Antonov, which is an example of the potential of the Ukrainian plant building. Within the charity fair the raffle draw took place. One of the exclusive prizes was a travel to Ukraine sponsored by the Ukrainian International Airlines (UIA).
The Ambassador Khandogiy and the Ukrainian team
Valentina Sokolovska (UIA) and the Ukrainian team at the CFAB
For more information, please, contact Oksana Kyzyma, Press Secretary of the Embassy of Ukraine to the UK
Tel.: 020 7727 6312 E-mail: press@ukremb.org.uk Address: 60 Holland Park, London W11 3SJ
Issue #11, May 16, 2013 In the preparation of this issue materials of UKRINFORM, www.bournemouthecho.co.uk were used