The Chairman of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada Andriy Parubiy and the NATO PA President Rasa Jukneviciene paid a joint working visit to the Donetsk oblast (region) on November the 9th
Within the framework of their trip they participated in an office meeting held by Joint Forces’ Commander Lieutenant General Serhii Naiev. The politicians thanked Ukrainians for defending the whole free democratic world today.
Afterwards, during his conversation with the media the Verkhovna Rada Chairman expressed his admiration for Rasa Jukneviciene’s courage. “I first of all want to express gratitude to her for courage and virtue that have allowed her to come and see the line between the free world and the Russian demesne with her own eyes. Today, Russia is doing its utmost to spread out its influence,” he stated.
According to the Parliament’s Speaker, it is evenly important for NATO to understand the essence of the struggle, which is conducted by Ukraine. "Our guys there on the front line are defending not only Ukraine but the entire civilized world as well," pointed out the Chairman.
Andriy Parubiy underlined that “Ukraine’s today pursuing a very straight path towards integration with the European Union, and NATO membership is of strategic importance to our state as well”.
“Presently, we stand at a stage of further constitutionalization of the changes that might deliver a sure clinch for our long phased way to NATO," explained the politician.
The Chairman then informed that this day the visitors gave a once-over to the command post in Shyrokyne, inspected how Ukrainian military miners work nearby the delimitation line and gained familiarity with the work of the "Gnutove" check point.
He also clued up after the Ukrainian visit the NATO PA President would go to Washington for a high level engagement which is focused on what she saw in the Donbas. A.Parubiy sincerely thanked the NATO allies and especially Mrs. Rasa "for the important symbolic support of Ukraine".
In her turn, the President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly pointed to Ukraine’s role in the security of Europe and the Euro-Atlantic space. "First of all I’d say that I am proud that my visit as the NATO PA President was the visit to the front line, where you defend the people of Ukraine from the aggression of the Russian Federation. I want to thank you for protecting the freedom of the whole of Europe," she said. She underscored that Lithuania does feel it very much: “I want to bow low before those ten thousand odd people, men and women, who died during this Russian aggression against Ukraine. And we are grateful to all those who stopped these armed forces here and they could not go further”.
She also congratulated those present that the 2020 NATO Parliamentary Assembly session would take place in Kyiv for sure. "Here at NATO PA, the Ukrainian issue stands high on the agenda - there are many heated discussions on the problem. Still, we feel firmly united as to the Crimea and the eastern regions of Ukraine – they all are integral parts of Ukraine. We have no doubt that this Russian aggression is a war against a sovereign state of Ukraine, hence we do not use wording like "crisis in Ukraine", because it is definitely - the war," she emphasized.
The President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Rasa Jukneviciene and the Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andriy Parubiy condemned holding the fake elections in the Donbas on November 11, 2018
Rasa Jukneviciene called on to non-recognition of those illicit elections. “It is high time to unequivocally denounce what the other side is doing – the so called “fake” elections, which would never be recognized by any democratic state and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly as well,” stated she.
The President also pointed out the work of the Ukrainian delegation to the NATO PA led by Iryna Friz, MP – “this is one of the best delegations we have seen at the PACE, and these people are resolutely upholding Ukraine’s interests so that everyone could learn about Ukraine”.
Iryna Friz, Head of Ukraine’s NATO PA delegation, and Andrius Avizius, Director, Committee on the Civil Dimension of Security at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly were also part of the Donbas delegation.