UN Lauds Ukrainian Reforms, EU Market Economy Status and Launch of New Community of Democratic Choice

UN LAUDS UKRAINIAN REFORMS, EU MARKET ECONOMY STATUS AND LAUNCH OF NEW COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRATIC CHOICE

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has sent a top UN official to represent him at today's Forum of the Community of Democratic Choice in Kyiv: UNDP's Regional Director for Europe and CIS, Assistant Secretary-General Kalman Mizsei, well known in Ukraine and the region as a leading expert in the economics of transition.

Mr. Mizsei arrived yesterday and briefly addressed the Public Forum of the Community of Democratic Choice (CDC), praising the civil society initiative to support the CDC agenda. Speaking afterwards, Mr. Mizsei also congratulated Ukraine on its success in obtaining market economy status from the EU, and lauded the successful EC-Ukraine summit which took place in Kyiv on 1 December. "Ukraine has established itself as a bulwark of freedom, democracy and stability in the region, exemplifying the UN Millennium Declaration in many respects" he said, referring to the freedom of the media, political pluralism, and a deepening of the democratic impulse in society "Its progress with European integration bears great promise"

He also congratulated Ukraine and Moldova for their cooperation in enabling the launching of the new EU Border Assistance Mission based in Odessa, and thanked the European Commission for its confidence in contracting UNDP as its implementing partner in this. Over the past several weeks, UNDP has contracted and supported the deployment of 119 personnel, complete with vehicle fleet and a range of fully-equipped offices in the area. "This would not have been possible without the confidence of the European Commission, the Council of Ministers, and the active cooperation of EU member countries in seconding customs and border experts at short notice", said Mr. Mizsei. "Flexible, on the ground, and with an established trust of Governments in the region, UNDP has a solid track record of cooperation with the EC in fields like this in several countries" he said "It fits squarely with our support to regional organisations in their efforts to promote the values enshrined in the UN charter, and to forge regional peace, integration, and stability".

Mr. Mizsei was also the initiator of the Blue Ribbon Commission for Ukraine, which has offered several reports, recommendations, and continuing high-level policy advice to the President and his Government in managing a second wave of sustainable economic and institutional reforms.

UNDP and the other eleven UN agencies active in Ukraine will embark on a new framework for development cooperation signed with the Government for the period 2006-2010, commencing January.