On Thursday, Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andrii Parubii met with Deputy Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Alexander Vershbow.
The parties discussed prospects of cooperation between the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the issues of preparation of the Ukraine-NATO Commission meeting in Warsaw (July 8-9, 2016).
Parubii informed Mr. Vershbow about the peculiarities of current political process in Ukraine, in particular, about the completion of establishment of new Parliamentary Coalition and the Government. He noted that the Parliament continues working to take decisions and adopt the draft laws touching the implementation of reforms.
The Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada said that it "is a great challenge for the authorities if we can really overcome the crisis and continue political process." "That day proved we could take decisions, that Ukraine could reshuffle the authorities without any destabilization. Ukraine is becoming a European state," Parubii said.
The Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada thanked the representatives of NATO for political support to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and pointed out the importance of further international-legal pressure on Russia to make it fulfill its obligations within the framework of the Minsk agreements.
Parubii noted that deep reformation of the defense sector in line with the Euro-Atlantic standards is also one of the key priorities in the external and internal policy and thanked for NATO's practical assistance to Ukraine in the process of reformation of the sectors of security, defense, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In turn Deputy Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Alexander Vershbow noted that NATO helps Ukraine and expresses support against the background of the Russian aggression.
Mr. Vershbow offered assistance in teaching Verkhovna Rada Secretariat employees and people's deputies means of parliamentary control. He said that the Office for relations with NATO proved the efficiency of the participation in advisory council touching these issues. At the same time, he said that the Ukrainian Army has gained the experience no other armies currently have.
Thus, he said that NATO studies experience of the participation of the Ukrainian Army in the hybrid war. He said that Ukraine ensures greater security for all other countries and does not only receive it. He said that the Ukraine's success will lead to positive changes in Russia.
The Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada noted that "strong Ukrainian army is of interest of the whole free world." "We do not have to think that we have to be protected, however, we also can protect the others as we do have a strong, effective army," he added.