Leigh Turner has come out to welcome the Focus journalists in person despite the fact that we've turned up early.  Unlike our severe compatriot, the security guard at the gate of his Residence, the Ambassador’s face is lit up with a welcoming smile.  “Our gardener is a real enthusiast”, he says proudly as he takes us around his garden beside a big, well-mown lawn.  It looks suitable for golf - the game of aristocrats.  Asked whether he's a keen golfer, he just says ‘No’. A spiral staircase takes us up to the house. When we see the ping-pong table there, we realise that the new Ambassador prefers more democratic sports. On the opposite wall is a famous Soviet poster depicting a young man in a suit refusing a glass of vodka. This was a present to Leigh Turner from a friend from Russia. “I'm sure you'll have your own views on whether such behaviour was typical in Soviet times” comments the Ambassador, smiling.  Although he says he prefers beer, he nonetheless brought his present from Russia with him to Kiev.

Although Leigh Turner was the First Secretary at the British Embassy in Moscow from 1992 till 1995, there were no opportunities for him to visit Ukraine during those years.  So this is his first time here.

At the very start of our conversation, Leigh Turner mentions in a diplomatic way that Europe is interested in Ukraine acting as a model to other countries of the region.  Clearly he has in mind, first and foremost, our whimsical northern neighbour.  But he makes the point that although a free press and the Euro-Atlantic aspirations are admirable, the Parliamentary crisis – including actual physical confrontations in the Duma – doesn't enhance Ukraine's reputation.

- Ambassador, at the recent Yalta European Strategy (YES) conference, ex-President [Leonid] Kuchma said of Ukraine’s plans for the EU and NATO, “I have said on numerous occasions that the weak are not liked anywhere.  We have nothing to go to Europe with.”  European politicians seem to have more belief in Ukraine than some retired Ukrainian bureaucrats, don’t they?
- I was lucky enough to attend the YES conference, and was interested to hear what Mr Kuchma and other conference participants had to say.  The UK's position on these two issues is clear.  First, we support Ukraine's desire to join NATO.  We were pleased by the outcome of the NATO summit held in Bucharest when NATO Allies affirmed that Ukraine will become a member of NATO.  Second, we are confident that the door to EU membership should remain open to Ukraine. Ukraine is a European country and once it fulfils the criteria, it should be admitted into full membership of the EU.  The key task for Ukraine is to push ahead with the reforms necessary to take integration and co-operation with the EU to the next level.  This cannot be achieved overnight.  It will take concerted effort, sustained over years, involving Ukrainians of all mainstream political parties.

- The recent visit to Ukraine of Chancellor Angela Merkel has not produce clarity about the terms under which Ukraine can achieve MAP.  What can make Germany and France change their minds on this issue by December?
- I cannot speak for Germany and France.  But there is a lot that Ukraine can do itself.  For example, it can continue to pursue economic and political reforms, combat corruption, reform the defence and security sectors, and modernise its Armed Forces and improve the democratic control over them, making them more efficient and accessible.  At the same time, Ukraine has been hosting the Black Sea Exercise SEA BREEZE jointly with NATO armed forces.  A Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship and a diving team are involved in this year’s exercise.

- Germany and France are not alone in being skeptical about Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic integration.   Proposals for NATO membership arouse furious disapproval amongst the people of southern and eastern Ukraine.  But the Alliance wants to improve its reputation in other countries too.  That's why the NATO leadership wants to reform the organisation, to shift the emphasis from military operations to preventive deployment of the expeditionary corps to hot spots.  At the same time, the biggest Allied operation, that in Afghanistan, has come in for frequent criticism recently.  Taliban guerrilla operations have tolled more lives during two recent months than the Iraq campaign.  Against this background, the statement of Prime Minister [Gordon] Brown about an increase in the British military contingent in Afghanistan raises the question of whether the chosen tactics can be justified.
- Since 2001, we've seen progress in many spheres in Afghanistan. Estimated infant mortality rates in Afghanistan have fallen significantly; around 5.4 million children are now in school, of whom 1.5 million are girls.  Basic health services reach 82% of the population - up from 9% in 2002.  More than 4.8 million Afghans have returned to their country, mostly from Pakistan and Iran.  As far as I am aware, there were no such programmes in Afghanistan before 2001.  You would never come across a girl at school.  This progress is directly linked with stability and democratic government as well as with the presence of the international peacekeeping contingent on the ground. Unfortunately, the implementation of humanitarian projects is sometimes impossible without military support.

- Let us move from the military to economic affairs.  How attractive is modern Ukraine for British investors?
- The high economic growth in the country has stimulated huge interest among British investors.  However, I have to be honest with you.  The Ukrainian market is pretty challenging for all foreign companies.  Naturally, British companies approach me as the Ambassador.  Some of them complain about difficulties with bureaucracy, overdue payments, and lack of confidence in the judicial system.  On one hand, it's often argued that big profits mean big risks.  On the other, I think it's vital for Ukraine to establish a stable investment climate.  People responsible for decision-making at national, regional and local levels must do everything possible to make Ukraine attractive for investment.

Such companies as Shell, Regal Petroleum, and Cadogan Petroleum are among those prepared to take a risk.  There is a new TNK-BP project to establish a network of BP-branded filling stations in Ukraine – the first one opened in Kyiv earlier in June.  In the fight for foreign investors the Ambassador’s advice is to remember that Ukraine is not the only country trying to attract foreign capital, and that it has to compete here with Poland, Hungary, Russia, China, India and the United States.  For instance, the United Kingdom remains the biggest Western investor in Russia.  British exports to Russia rose to £3.9 billion last year, and Russia accounts for around 30% of IPO activity in the City of London. The UK's share of $412m of foreign direct investments (FDI) in Ukraine makes up about 5% of the $8.3 billion total.

The economy is not the only area where the United Kingdom is prepared to co-operate actively with Ukraine.  During the visit of [Ukrainian President] Victor Yushchenko to the United Kingdom in May, agreement was reached for Britain to provide Ukraine with technical assistance in the sphere of security during Euro-2012.

- London will host the Olympic Games in 2012, with Ukraine and Poland hosting the European football championship same year.  It would be a fantastic year of sports across the whole of Europe, says Leigh Turner.  We are committed to providing maximum support to help Ukraine and Poland arrange events connected with the championships.  British sports security experts have already visited Ukraine.  The UK has also offered to host a Ukrainian delegation in the autumn to observe English policing tactics, in-stadia safety and security arrangements and English football crowd dynamics at first hand.  I do hope Ukraine will host the championship successfully, as I'll be keen to see some football (smiles).

- Are you a football fan?
- Definitely!

- And what is your favourite team?
- I lived for many years in Manchester.  Mind you, I'd probably be a fan of Manchester United even if I'd lived somewhere else.

- Who is your favourite football player?
- I think any Man United player has to be top class. 

The diplomatic career of the Ambassador Leigh Turner has a strange break of four years.  He took a period of unpaid leave in 2002, devoted himself to his family and his children and engaged into creative activity.  He spent four years writing novels and film scripts, and writing for the Financial Times and the Boston Globe newspapers.

- Your decision is pretty extraordinary for a person making career as a diplomat and a civil servant.
- Everyone's different.  What suits one person may not suit another. I'm lucky because my wife is also a senior member of the diplomatic service.  In 2000 we discussed who should work next, and what kind of work it might be.  We decided that she should work full-time as I had been working full-time for several years before that.  She felt it would be best for me to be looking after our children, rather than some other person.  I thought that would be quite a challenge.

- Did you succeed?
- I hope so!  In fact, my wife took up the very same job at the British Embassy in Berlin I'd been doing.  So my last day of work was her first working day.  Of course, she was immensely successful.  I can’t say whether I succeeded (smiles) but our children still seem happy and sane.

- Will a movie be shot based on your story?
- I wrote several novels while I was working and looking after the children.   I was fortunate enough to sell one to a film production company in Germany.  So at least I can say I've been paid for writing fiction!  Unfortunately, the film has not been shot yet but I'm still hopeful.  The best thing is that even if they don't make the film, you get to keep the money (smiles).  

- And what is the novel about?
- That was a comedy.  But I've also written a couple of thrillers. Maybe the complex and challenging work of being British ambassador in Ukraine will give me ideas for future novels.