Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and Hansheiri Inderkum, President of the Council of States, highly appreciate the level of political dialogue between Ukraine and the Swiss Confederation.
The Parties made the foregoing statement during the meeting in Bern, within the official visit of V.Lytvyn to the Swiss Confederation.
Mr Hansheiri Inderkum informed the Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament about the tasks of the Council of States, stressing that the Council is concerned with the unity of the country and the cantons.
He stated, "There were heated political debates in the National Council today, while the Council of States tackles the issues in a calm manner."
The President of the Council of States informed about the situation with the smaller cantons of Switzerland merging with the larger ones. He stated that this matter is ambiguous, as the cantons in the present-day form are more powerful than other territorial units.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine thanked the Swiss party for their hospitality. He stated that visiting the session of the Council of States, he observed thorough work. "It leads to the right direction, which supports successful development of the country," V.Lytvyn stated.
The Head of the Ukrainian Parliament stated that he admires organization of life and power in Switzerland, as "it allows people to take part in state administration, and instills responsibility for the future of their country." According to the Head of the Ukrainian Parliament, it supports realization of capacities of Switzerland.
V.Lytvyn expects that forthcoming parliamentary elections in Ukraine will be held under the mixed majoritarian-proportional system, 225 People´s Deputies being personally elected. "Despite the drawbacks of such a system, it is positive that the ‘personally elected´ part of the parliament may become a prototype of the upper chamber," he stated.
The Parties declared that inter-parliamentary cooperation is another area of development of Ukrainian-Swiss relations. V.Lytvyn supposes that it is the parliaments of both states that will strike the keynote in cooperation.
The Parties also discussed the prospects of European integration of Ukraine. V.Lytvyn stated, "Switzerland is not a member of the European Union due to its political views, while Ukraine has not been invited yet." However, he stressed, "We deem necessary to cooperate with the EU." The Head of the Ukrainian Parliament informed that negotiations on the EU Association Agreement and a free-trade zone entered their final stage. He stressed that Ukraine is willing to be a predictable country.
V.Lytvyn also noted that both Switzerland and Ukraine have a non-aligned status. "This status relieved tension in the country and in the relations with neighbours," he stressed.