Ukraine was among the first nations which put its signature under the United Nations Charter. Being a founding member Ukraine regards the UN as a unique mechanism of global multilateral cooperation. Since the declaration of its independence in August 1991, Ukraine has determined membership in the United Nations as one of its foreign policy priorities. Ukraine firmly adheres to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, substantially contributing to the Organization's activity in fields of maintenance of international peace and security, disarmament, economic and social development, strengthening of international law, protection of human rights. Elections of Ukraine as non-permanent member of the Security Council for terms of 1948-1949, 1984-1985, 2000-2001 became a recognition of her achievements.

Ukraine is an active participant of the current process of the UN reform aimed at revitalizing and democratizing the Organization’s activities. It was under the Presidency of Ukraine’s representative that the 52^nd session of the UN General Assembly has endorsed the comprehensive Programme of the Organization’s reform.

Ukraine is also convinced that the transformation of the United Nations is hardly possible and would be incomplete without a more representative and open Security Council. One of the fundamental elements of the position of Ukraine on this matter is a substantively increased representation in the enlarged Security Council of underrepresented regions.

Through its foreign policy, Ukraine bends all its efforts towards the maintenance of international peace, regional security and stability. Since the very first year of its independence Ukraine has become a significant troop-contributing country to the UN peacekeeping activities. To give some examples:

*  more than 34 thousand military and civilian personnel of Ukraine have discharged noble mission under the UN flag;

*  the geography of Ukraine’s participation in the UN peacekeeping efforts has spread from Guatemala to Timor-Leste, from Croatia to Mozambique;

*  Ukraine also provides its air lift services for the UN humanitarian operations in Africa;

*  in 1994 our country initiated the elaboration and adoption of the Convention on the Safety of the United Nations and Associated Personnel by the UNGA;

*                         during the 57^th session of the General Assembly the UN Member States unanimously supported the initiative of Ukraine to designate 29^th of May as the International Day of the United Nations Peacekeepers.

Based on the urgent need to work out the effective international measures to combat terrorism, Ukraine joined the Global Coalition against Terrorism, reaffirmed its readiness to exert maximum efforts for a common fight against international terrorism, especially in the framework of the United Nations. Ukraine is a part of all existing universal UN anti-terrorism treaties.

Ukraine made a historic contribution to the global process of nuclear disarmament by renouncing voluntary the world’s third largest nuclear weapons arsenal. We consistently stand for reducing the nuclear arsenals of states, an overall decrease of the role of nuclear weapons in the military and strategic doctrines, enhancing the nuclear non-proliferation regime while reaffirming the inalienable right of all states to peaceful use of nuclear energy without discrimination. Ukraine has signed and ratified the Non-Proliferation Treaty, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, our country is a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency with the Safeguards Agreement and Additional Protocol in force as well as an active participant of all international export control regimes.

At the same time Ukraine is convinced that real and effective disarmament and non-proliferation should go in parallel with creation and practical safeguarding of global security guarantees, strict compliance of States and international organizations with norms and fundamental principles of international law, as well as with the establishing of an atmosphere of mutual trust in international relations. The disarmament and non-proliferation should be a part of a wider system of instruments in the maintenance of international peace and security.

Ukraine stands for more active international and regional cooperation of states to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit production and trade of small arms and light weapons in all its aspects and to regulate the broker activity in this sphere (2001 UN Programme of Actions). Ukraine is the traditional co-sponsor of the relevant UNGA resolutions.

Our country persistently takes steps at the national level in order to ensure strict implementation of arms embargoes, imposed by the UN Security Council by Ukraine’s legal and natural persons, as well as to prevent illicit arms transfers from its territory or by its nationals. In this regard, for 18 years of independence, Ukraine has succeeded in establishing one of the most effective and reliable national policies in this area.

Ukraine attaches great importance to its participation in promotion of the United Nations role in solving the global problems relating to sustainable development, protection of environment, elimination of poverty, protection of human rights, international crime and drug trafficking control, AIDS prevention etc. Ukraine pays particular attention to food security. In 2009, our country became a donor to the World Food Program with a contribution of 580.000 US dollars.

Our country is fully involved in the UN activity on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as on the guaranteeing of universality and indivisibility of all human rights: civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development. From the very outset Ukraine strongly supported the initiative on the establishment of the Human Rights Council, actively participated in its creation and was elected to the first membership of the Council in 2006 and re-elected in 2008. As a responsible partner of the international cooperation Ukraine strictly adheres to its international obligations in the field of human rights and strives for achieving the highest standards in this sphere. During the elections to the Human Rights Council Ukraine made a range of unilateral commitments and pledges that have been already implemented. During the meeting of the second session of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) held on 13 May 2008 Ukraine was examined on the human rights obligations and commitments of our country.

Ukraine’s position in the HRC is based on the deep-rooted traditions of tolerance and respect to human rights along with the democratic, multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multicultural background.

Ukraine actively participates in UN led efforts aimed at combating HIV/AIDS epidemic. In particular, it was on Ukraine's initiative that the twenty-sixth special session of the General Assembly was convened, adopting a Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS.

Ukraine has always proceeded from the understanding that ensuring a viable financial base is predominant for the United Nation’s efficiency. Despite its own economic difficulties, Ukraine is doing its utmost to adhere to its financial obligations before the UN, steadily paying in full and timely manner its current assessments.

The accession of Ukraine to the World Trade Organization on 16 May 2008 became a significant achievement of our foreign policy and external economy. Ukraine is a responsible member and supporter of this unique international system of trade principles and rules and works together with the rest of the members for further development and possible improvement of the system.

Ukraine finds it possible and absolutely necessary to support a certain number of initiatives, regarding them as constructive steps along the way to reach potential convergence of such a big variety of views and positions of states, thus ensuring making headway to a clearer system of rules facilitating and liberalizing trade throughout the world.

If elected for a seat of non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the term 2016-2017 Ukraine will strive to contribute to the transformation of the Council into open and fully accessible to all states body and to promote, as a matter of principle, a wide and constructive cooperation with the countries. It is through the permanent dialogue, consultations and continuing accessibility to all interested delegations that Ukraine will maintain its close contacts with other states in its day-to-day work in the Council.

For sixty four years of its participation in the UN activities Ukraine served three mandates as non-permanent member of the Security Council and she possesses all necessary attributes to discharge the honorable mission of UNSC membership.

Fully aware of the new challenges confronting the Security Council today in the context of the United Nations reform process, Ukraine, if elected to this body, will spare no effort to accomplish this highly responsible mission.