STRATEGIC PRIORITIES AND INSTITUTIONAL BARRIERS TO INTERSTATE DIALOGUE BETWEEN UKRAINE AND THE SOUTH CAUCASUS COUNTRIES ON MIGRATION FLOW MANAGEMENT (1991–2003)

The purpose of the article is to study the evolution of interstate cooperation between Ukraine and the countries of the South Caucasus, strategic priorities, and institutional barriers of the parties in the field of migration flow management in 1991–2003. The methodological basis of the study is the principles of historicism, scientific objectivity, and systematicity, which made it possible to impartially identify logical changes in the historical process. The research methods are presented as both general scientific methods (historical, logical) and special methods (historical-comparative, subject-chronological, retrospective). The scientific novelty of the study lies in a comprehensive analysis of cooperation between Ukrainian and South Caucasian government agencies responsible for migration issues in terms of protecting the rights of national and ethnic minorities, ensuring the needs, rights, and freedoms of the Ukrainian diaspora, and the linguistic and cultural integration of Ukrainians into the societies of their countries of residence in 1991–2003. The forms and methods of interaction between the state migration services of Ukraine and the countries of the South Caucasus have been identified. The key areas and mechanisms of cooperation and participation in the cultural and political life of Ukrainian communities have been examined and analyzed. The main institutional barriers that arose in the regulation of migration flows have been identified. The conclusions correspond to the research objective. The period from 1991 to 2003 was crucial for establishing intergovernmental dialogue between Ukraine and the countries of the South Caucasus, moving from declarative statements to attempts to create effective mechanisms for the social protection of migrants. A transformation was observed from chaotic responses to post-colonial migration crises to attempts at systematic institutionalisation of relations. The existence of a time gap between signed declarative agreements and the lack of mechanisms for their implementation at the national level was proven. The strategic interests of countries in intergovernmental dialogue in the field of migration flow management have been identified.