Between 13-15 September, The First Vice-Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, A. Martyniuk, is making a Working Visit to the Transcarpathian Region.
He visited The Irshava, Vynohradiv, Berehove, Svaliava, and Velyky Berezny Districts, Mukachevo, Perechyn and Uzhhorod towns, where he met the Community, Local Council Leaders, and gave live broadcast addresses on local TV, and a Press Conference for the Transcarpathian media.
As a regular 'Ukraine-EU' Summit opened in Kyiv on 13 September, bringing together leading Ukrainian and European politicians, many questions were related to the International status of Ukraine and the prospects of its joining The EU, WTO and NATO, further development of Ukrainian/Russian relations in view of the changes in the Russian Government before the forthcoming election, and the world response to the future returns of the early Parliamentary election.
Speaking on the Summit, A.I. Martyniuk disclosed that he does not expect any breakthrough outcomes, as it will provide further discussions on the ways of joining the EU. 'Instead of looking at Europe, we should work harder to create a European lifestyle here in Ukraine. Only then will Europe need us.'
Martyniuk also repeated the well-known Communist position concerning entry into NATO: 'It will be a political betrayal of our people to do it forcedly, when the overwhelming majority of our population is flatly opposed to NATO.'
The International image of Ukraine after the election, according to A. Martyniuk, will totally depend on the level of transparency and democracy of the early election.
A. Martyniuk replied to numerous questions on the current socio-economic advance of Ukraine and Transcarpathia, and steps which must be taken by the Government to improve the living standards of the population.
On 16 September, The First Vice-Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine will visit Lviv, and on 17 September the Rivne Region.