Ukranian ambassador talks international relations at UNC

Ukrainian Ambassador Olexander Motsyk likened the internal tension between Western and Eastern Ukraine to that of the tension between the political parties of the United States.

Motsyk, who spoke on Wednesday at the Ambassadors Forum, said with parliamentary elections quickly approaching on Oct. 28, the two regions of the country are vying to have their ideals represented in the government.

“This makes Ukraine a very politically interesting country,” said Robert Jenkins, director of the Center for Slavic, Eurasian and East European Studies.

Motsyk is the second ambassador to visit the University in conjunction with the Ambassadors Forum, which is put on by the Richard M. Krasno Distinguished Professorship, the Center for European Studies/European Union Center of Excellence and the Department of History.

The Ambassadors Forum aims to give UNC students insight into international relations. The next lecture in the series will be delivered by the ambassador of the Republic of Georgia on Nov. 14.
More than 70 people attended the event.

Motsyk volunteered to speak at UNC for free.

In Motsyk’s lecture, titled “Ukraine in Global Politics: Relations with Russia, Europe and the US,” Motsyk discussed the future of his country relating to its international relations.

He focused heavily on addressing the country’s ever-changing relationship with its Russian neighbor.

“We really do wish to have friendly, neighborly relations with Russia, and I can say we are doing everything possible to have good relations,” Motsyk said.

One-third of Ukraine’s trade is with Russia, and therefore it makes sense to maintain a positive relationship, Motsyk said.

A good relationship with Russia makes integration into the European Union easier, which Motsyk stressed as his country’s highest foreign policy priority.

Motsyk said he hopes a strategic partnership established in 2005 between Ukraine and the United States will encourage more research on the country of Ukraine, especially on the economic front.

Ukraine’s democracy is not well-established, which makes it an interesting country to study, said Klaus Larres, a Richard M. Krasno Distinguished Professor.

Larres said he met Motsyk in Washington, D.C., and when he expressed interest in having Motsyk speak at UNC, the feeling was mutual.

Motsyk said he was very excited to have the opportunity to speak to students at UNC because he is interested in creating a relationship with North Carolina, especially in the field of higher education.

“My role as ambassador is to strengthen existing bridges and build new ones,” he said.

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