March 20, 2003

My dear fellow citizens,

Today Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine decided to send a Ukrainian NBC protection battalion to Kuwait. As Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine I gave order to redeploy this unit.

Position of Ukraine remains definite and unchanged: we are against the war. Practically each Ukrainian family lost someone during the last one - World War II. That is why, who else but us, know: war must be avoided at any price, and by any means.

Regretfully, as often happend in the history of humankind, diplomacy in this situation suffered fiasco. Now is the time when arms talk.

We remain devoted to our strategic partnership, first of all with the United States of America. We are members of anti-terrorist coalition and regard as our major obligation to fight this evil, the worst one in 21^st century. We regret though over failure to solve this problem within the framework of international organizations possibilities.

I would like to underline that in no case our unit shall participate in military actions. Its high mission is strictly humanitarian: to provide assistance to civilian population, should weapons of mass destruction be used.

Invitation of our forces is not only recognition of their skills and world level training. Ukraine has unique by world standards experience in liquidation of man-caused and ecological catastrophe in 1986 in Chornobyl. That’s why no one knows better than us what real threat of nuclear contamination is and how to save people in such conditions. Let alone the world threat of ecological disaster which if, God forbids, happens will reach practically every country on our planet.

Not freshmen are sent to Kuwait. Among the servicemen there are many who directly participated in military actions and peace-keeping operations under aegis of international organizations. Nevertheless, we shall hope their professional skills and abilities not to be required during the conflict. Ukraine is already doing and shall do its best to provide for our military men. I gave instructions to our Government to take appropriate decisions.

Men, now I would like to address you directly: wherever you are, you s should feel that Ukraine is with you, and beside you. We shall be with you constantly; we shall wait for your return home and shall pray for safe completion of the war for each of you.

But you have to be aware: wherever you are you represent the country, the flag and reputation of Ukraine.

God helps you.