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Q: how are you going to develop the policy of your government if, as the leader of the party, your
attitude toward joining NATO is quite moderate and careful, whereas as the national leader you will have to
pursue the policy of the country which has been clearly stated in that respect?

Yanukovych: we have to convince the society and when I say convince the society that means we should
not really juxtapose two different ways like the part... The membership in NATO and our policy of good
relations with Russia. And if we manage to find a way of bringing these two positions together, then this will be
a policy that will be comforting, not only for a party, but for the country in general. We should not develop a
policy that would create a blind alley in the relations between Russia and the European Union or in the relations
between Ukraine and European Union versus Russia. We should build a reliable bridge between Russia and the
European Union and I have stated that often and often again.

Moderator: two short questions here.

Q: national news agency of Ukraine. If possible in Ukrainian. (translated)...

And short question to Secretary General. Secretary General after these negotiations, do you feel that
Ukraine is ready to fulfill its intention to send to Afghanistan for (inaudible) of civilian personnel?

Thank you.

Translator: the first question was the co-operation of NATO in the continuing defence reform and the
security reform in Ukraine is very important. So Mr. Prime minister are you going to continue those reforms and
will there be any budget support for the reforms.

Yanukovych: these reforms will be continued and the necessary financing will be there.

De hoop scheffer: I can answer you that any further Ukraine participation in the isaf operation of NATO
in Afghanistan linking it perhaps to the activities by other NATO allies is of great importance and will be
another sign of Ukraine’s (inaudible) participation. So I would make a strong plea indeed and the Prime Minister
has touched upon the subject of Ukrainian participation in Afghanistan in this sense.

Q: Secretary General a question on Afghanistan. The United States and Poland have announced
additional troops. Is that already sufficient to meet the present shortcoming? And the other question would be
how much is... Considering the difficulties in getting the necessary commitments, how much is all of this a test
for NATO’s credibility?

De hoop scheffer: I was in touch late last night with the Polish defence minister Sikorski who is in
Washington as you know. I think the Polish decision is a very important one. We're talking about a battalion
here. As was said yesterday in the media, in other allies there is also still an ongoing discussion, so I think in
this respect we are doing well. The question is always we can do more with more forces, so you'll never see a
Secretary General say well here I am as a 100 percent happy man. But this is, as far as the need for extra forces
is concerned, a very important step. Let me on the other hand tell you that the operation Medusa West of
Kandahar is going extremely well. With the forces we have, we can do what we want to do. That will be the
case. But it is important this Polish decision to answer the quests put by the NATO military authorities,
supported by me, for more forces in Afghanistan. And I've stated many times before that this is a very important
operation for NATO; it is NATO’s first priority and we are doing well.

Moderator: I'm afraid that's all we have time for.

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