On Monday, 5 July, the Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine O. Moroz met A.-M. Lizin, the Senate Chairman of the Kingdom of Belgium and the Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.
At the beginning of the meeting A.- M. Lizin highly appreciated the level of the organization of the OSCE PA in Kyiv. "Ukraine was on the highest level", - she marked.
The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine responded that holding Assembly in Kyiv testifies respect of Ukraine in Europe. He also commented on benevolence of the Assembly participants and their willingness to cooperate with Ukraine.
O.Moroz congratulated Mrs. Lizin on being elected the OSCE PA Vice-President.
A.-M. Lizin stated that "image of Ukraine in Belgium is, on the whole, quite positive." In his turn, O. Moroz stressed that situation in Ukraine, which is to great extent artificially created, is being intently observed in a number of European countries.
A.-M. Lizin emphasized that Belgium is interested in expansion and strengthening of bilateral relations on all levels, including interparliamentary cooperation. She informed of the intention to form a group of friendship with Ukraine in both chambers of Belgian Parliament. She is convinced that exchange of experience in the parliamentary work will promote further approach of Ukrainian legislation towards European.
A.-M. Lizin considers cooperation in the field of energy as one of the possible subjects for such groups.
The issue concerning development of cooperation between Ukraine and Europe, especially in energy sector, was also discussed at the meeting. "The system of energy connections exceeds expectations of the European Union. This regards both Ukraine, and Russia, and, to some extent, Belarus. Energy issues will become a core of future actions, therefore, Ukraine could considerably extend its importance in Europe through activity in energy field", - believes Mrs. Lizin.
She also deems reasonable to develop cooperation between Ukraine and France in energy sector, taking into consideration positive long-lasting experience of activities of French energy enterprises in Belgium.
Seconding the opinion of Mrs. Lizin, the Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada called for taking into account the positions of Ukraine in Europe as country of transit. He considers extension of energy capability of Ukraine to be one of the basic challenges.
Speaking on diversification of power supply sources, O. Moroz called for developing the Black Sea Shelf. According to him, development of atomic power engineering and biological fuels manufacture also hold much promise. Parliamentary constituent can assume considerable importance in this issue.
The meeting also included exchange of experience in settling the problems of local government.