The meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Inter-Parliamentary Council took place

Information Department of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Secretariat
Published on 12 February 2021, at 10:10

The UNIC meeting was chaired by First Deputy Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk and Chairperson of the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia to the NATO PA Delegation Ojars Kalnins. The sitting was attended by members of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, members of parliaments of NATO member states, NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana and Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna. During the meeting, the participants discussed topical issues of the Ukraine-NATO cooperation agenda, Ukraine's role in the modern Euro-Atlantic security space, focused on regional security issues, outlined the main priorities of cooperation in the field of defense and military reform, etc.

Opening the meeting, the President of the NATO PA, US Congressman Gerald Connolly stressed that 30 years have passed since the restoration of Ukraine's independence: “Ukraine is paying a high price for its choice. And we must stand firm on your side to defend your freedom to choose your own future.” He added that Ukrainian partners would never agree to the illegal occupation of Crimea. Gerald E. Connolly also called on NATO and Ukraine to “share experiences and help each other defend our democratic values and strengthen our ability to resist and counter attempts to undermine them, both internally and externally.”

In his speech, First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk stressed that the parliamentary dimension of cooperation remains an important component of our high-level political dialogue with NATO and state members of the Allies: “Today, our common task as representatives of the people is to strengthen cooperation between Ukraine and NATO aimed at building a secure and prosperous Euro-Atlantic space.” Ruslan Stefanchuk also expressed concern over regular ceasefire violations in Donbas, the deteriorating human rights situation in the occupied Crimea and Russia's ongoing militarization of the Azov-Black Sea region, which continues to undermine the security of Ukraine and the region. “We see the need to strengthen the reaction of the international community to the occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol,” he said and informed parliamentarians about the initiative to create a Crimean platform, which aims to deoccupy Crimea and return it to Ukraine peacefully. Ruslan Stefanchuk also suggested setting up an informal support group for the Crimean Platform within the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

In their speeches, the parliamentarians of NATO member states once again expressed their support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine, its independence, sovereignty and Euro-Atlantic aspirations of our state. The deputies also strongly condemned the ongoing illegal occupation of Crimea by Russia, Russia's aggressive actions aimed at destabilizing the situation in eastern Ukraine and the militarization of the Black Sea.

In his address, NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana emphasized that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the special partnership between NATO and Ukraine remained dynamic. In addition, Ukraine's new status as a partner with enhanced capabilities will facilitate closer cooperation. Recalling the support of the Alliance for Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, Mircea Geoana stressed the important role of the Parliament, which it plays in promoting the democratic reforms needed to achieve this goal.

Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna stressed the intensive cooperation and interaction between Ukraine and NATO. Olha Stefanishyna stressed that an important component of strengthening security and stability in the region is the implementation of the decision of NATO member states, enshrined in the Declaration of the Bucharest Summit in 2008, on the future membership of Ukraine in NATO.

Recalling the origins of NATO and the successful and dynamic cooperation of the NATO PA with Ukraine since the signing of the Charter on a Distinctive Partnership between Ukraine and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 1997, NATO Co-Chair of the Ukraine-NATO Inter-Parliamentary Council Ojars Kalnins said that since then “The Inter-Parliamentary Council has been and remains an extremely valuable forum for parliamentarians who have the opportunity to discuss not only issues of cooperation between Ukraine and NATO, but also any other issues of concern.”