The third most powerful nuclear arsenal renounced.

From the moment of achieving independence, Ukraine has shown itself as a predictable and peace-loving member of the international community. Having clearly defined its priorities in foreign policy, Ukraine continues to adhere to them purposefully and unswervingly. The main strategic directions of its foreign policy are integration in the European Union (EU) and strategic partnership with the Russian Federation, the United States and Poland. These directions--in conjunction with its friendly relations with neighbouring States, its activity on regional and subregional levels, and its participation in multilateral diplomacy and peacekeeping--became the basic elements that determine Ukraine's foreign policy today. Its strategic aim to become a full-rights member of the European Union is to ensure the country's stable economic growth, social harmony, political stability and state independence and security. The European Parliament supported the entry of Ukraine into the Union. The EU Summit, held in Goteborg in Jun e 2001, decided to invite Ukraine to participate in the Conference, which unites member States and countries that are candidates for membership in the European Union.

A top priority step to get into the Union is membership in the World Trade Organization. In 1997, Ukraine started bilateral negotiations with the WTO member States as to access to the market of goods and services. Presently, it holds negotiations with 39 countries, among which are members of EU, the United States, Japan, Canada, Australia and countries of the Central European Free Trade Association.

As one of the founding members of the United Nations, Ukraine has always regarded the Organization as a universal mechanism for resolving global problems and for building close cooperation among its members. Its participation in the United Nations activities during the last ten years has been extremely productive. Ukraine's active and well-considered position on numerous issues on the UN agenda has been widely recognized by UN Member States, vividly demonstrated by the election of its Minister of Foreign Affairs as President of the fifty-second session of the General Assembly. Its election to the Security Council as a non-permanent member for the period 2000-2001 has become one of the most important achievements of Ukraine's foreign policy since its independence.

During two years of work in the Security Council, Ukraine has proven to be an active member, whose position is taken into account by all Council members. It not only effectively influences the process of decision-making but also contributes in the practical realization of Security Council decisions.

For ten years, Ukraine has turned into a reliable partner of the United Nations in carrying out its peacekeeping operations. Nearly 12,000 peacekeepers from Ukraine have fulfilled their mission under the UN flag in many parts of the world--the Balkans, the Middle East, Asia, Central America and Africa. In 1994, it initiated the adoption by the General Assembly of the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel.

Ukraine was one of the countries that proposed the convening of the General Assembly special session on HIV/AIDS and actively worked to make this event possible.

Ukraine also actively cooperates with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on issues of peacekeeping and other measures for maintaining peace. Presently, 14 Ukrainian representatives work in the missions of OSCE in Georgia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Kosovo, as assistants of the Personal Representative of the Acting President of OSCE in Nagorny Karabakh, in the Mission of OSCE in Tajikistan and in the centre of OSCE in Bishkek. Ukraine continuously supports a more active role of OSCE in the settlement of "frozen conflicts".

Ukraine is developing cooperation with the Council of Europe. During its membership in the Council, it has become party to 33 European Conventions and Agreements of the Council, and signed and ratified the greater part of the international and legal documents to which it had to accede and meet the obligations undertaken upon joining the Organization. Ukraine's membership promotes development of "European thinking", and directs the State power and the public thought at high democratic and humanitarian standards, which are the foundations of the contemporary European civilization.

By its foreign policy and constructive position with regard to the numerous items on the international agenda, Ukraine presents itself as a predictable, balanced and reliable partner, which conducts understandable policy. Its voluntary renunciation of the third most powerful nuclear arsenal in the world for the sake of strengthening stability and security on the planet is the most vivid evidence of such policy.

Ukraine still has a long way to go. However, democratic choice will remain invariable. Having started the construction of a democratic European State, it will pursue this course in the future.

Celebrating the tenth anniversary of independence, Ukraine faces the future with confidence, which is connected with the future of the European family of nations.