"It is out of the question that Russia, having previously attacked Georgia, would now attack the Ukraine. Likewise, Ukraine would never attack Russia. We want to secure a trusting relationship with Japan."

On December 15, in the Nippon Foundation building in Tokyo, H.E. Mr. Mykola Kulinich, Ambassador of the Ukraine to Japan, presented a lecture entitled "The Ukraine of Yesterday and Today", addressing issues including concerns about the impact of disputes over natural gas on Ukraine-Russia relations, and future economic exchange between the Ukraine and Japan.

The ambassador then touched upon Ukraine's declaration to denuclearize following independence from the Soviet Union, stating, "I expect that Japan, having been damaged by nuclear weapons, can understand why we adopted the declaration." Regarding relations with Russia, the ambassador strongly criticized Russia's stance, stating that although Russia is stating their desire to be amicable neighbours with the Ukraine, they are also saying, in reference to demands for massively increased payments for natural gas, "If you want it, pay the asking price". The ambassador then said, again in reference to natural gas, "Russia is going too far. Negotiations are becoming tough." However, the ambassador also made clear his hopes for the region, stating that, "We must find a solution before war breaks out. Twelve percent of the population of the Ukraine is Russian. I want to believe that war will definitely not occur."

In reference to internal politics following dissolution of the coalition government as a result of leadership disputes between the pro-West President Yushchenko and Prime Minister Tymoshenko, the ambassador said that now that a three-party coalition government that includes as one of its three leaders Volodymyr Lytvyn, the Speaker of the Parliament, has been formed, "We will not know how things will progress until we have seen how things develop over the next year.”

The ambassador then addressed Ukraine-Japan relations, stating, "We would like to propose new agricultural projects. We hope that Japan will use our powdered milk and processed soy products in its livestock rearing and in its foodstuffs, and we will do our utmost to bring these products up to Japanese safety standards.” The ambassador concluded his lecture by expressing his hopes that the two countries would be able to cooperate not just in the field of agriculture but also in economic exchange.

(Katsunori Ishii, the Nippon Foundation)

*This article was reproduced from The Nippon Foundation Blog Magazine with the permission of the Nippon Foundation.