“Cooperation between Ukraine and Norway has gained in recent times particularly high dynamics,” – Andriy Parubiy at a meeting with the Storting President
During their meeting on Tuesday, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andriy Parubiy and the President of the Storting of the Kingdom of Norway Tone Wilhelmsen Troen expressed satisfaction over the high dynamics and effectiveness of the political dialogue between Ukraine and Norway in 2017-2018 years.
"We are ready to continue to maintain the existing high dynamics of bilateral contacts," emphasized A.Parubiy.
He thanked Norway for the solid and unwavering support to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. A.Parubiy noted that "he had a chance to make sure about this during his working visit to Norway in May 2017 at the invitation of the “Oslo Center for Peace” and the National Democratic Institute”.
In her turn, the Storting President Tone Wilhelmsen Troen underscored that the Storting Friendship Group would be a good platform “for developing inter-parliamentary cooperation, improving political communication between the two parliaments”.
The UA Parliament’s Chairman dwelt on the application and preservation of international sanctions against Russia in order to provide an effective response "to its attempts to destroy the European security order". The head of the Ukrainian Parliament raised the issue of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, "which is a political instrument directed against Ukraine and against the European energy security system". A.Parubiy stressed that this project "has nothing to do with economic expediency".
During the meeting, A.Parubiy stated that "Ukraine continues to enjoy support of Norwegian colleagues: both during bilateral meetings and during visits of parliamentary delegations to NATO, the OSCE, and the Council of Europe".
The parties discussed ways of establishing cooperation in counteracting information attacks and cyberattacks, and expressed their hopes that the above interaction would become even more active.
Also, the parties highly appreciated the creative cooperation in the field of film industry and other areas of the humanitarian sphere.
At a joint briefing after the meeting, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andriy Parubiy noted that "the cooperation between our countries has recently gained particularly high dynamics: not long ago, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway was in Ukraine and a delegation of Ukrainian parliamentary leaders was in Norway, studying and exchanging the parliamentary experience”.
A.Parubiy told reporters that he "thanked Norway for the support it renders Ukraine in this difficult time, for a clear position towards the sanctions against Russia and support of Ukraine’s territorial integrity".
He then noted that during the conversation he "raised the issue of the Nord Stream 2, and called on the Norwegian Parliament to solidarity in rejecting the construction of the gas pipe line since this Putin's aggressive energy project is pointed at increasing of energy pressure upon Europe".
The Storting President T.W.Troen thanked for the "sincere invitation, cordial welcome and a good meeting". "Norway and Storting, the Norwegian Parliament, unconditionally support Ukraine's efforts to reform the country. We do appreciate and understand the fact that the said reforms are carried out in very difficult circumstances, under the Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine and the illegal occupation of the Crimea," said the Norwegian politician. "In token of this support, we have brought with us a rather large delegation”.
T.W.Troen expressed her hope that Ukraine, despite the upcoming elections, "will continue to fight corruption and develop a strong, democratic society topped with the rule of law".
She stressed that "Norway will be, as it is and
was, a committed partner to Ukraine, while the Storting and the Verkhovna Rada
will continue to actively cooperate carrying a fruitful dialogue, which is beneficial for the
both sides".