On Monday First Deputy Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andrii Parubii met with Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Vice Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of the Kingdom of Belgium D.Reynders.
A.Parubii congratulated Belgium on its chairmanship in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and expressed his condolences on the passing of Queen of Belgium Fabiola.
The First Deputy Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine thanked Mister Minister for his country's interest in Ukraine. He informed him about the situation in Ukraine, stressing that our country is, in fact, in a state of war. "We have to implement reforms and defend our territorial integrity at the same time", said A.Parubii, adding that for Ukraine a clear stand of its western partners on the necessity of supporting reforms and introducing sanctions against Russian Federation is very important. He also mentioned that Ukrainian military men are defending not only Ukraine but the whole Europe as well.
The Parties discussed implementation of the Association Agreement and ways of regulating the situation in the East of Ukraine.
The First Deputy Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine informed about work on the newly elected Parliament. He stressed that the Verkhovna Rada shall ensure implementation of reforms in military and economic spheres at the legislative level; it shall also reform local-self government in the part of decentralization. "It is one of the key reforms which we shall implement; however, it is necessary to say that not all changes will be made instantly. Decentralization stipulates amendments to the Constitution and this is a long procedure", claimed A.Parubii.
In his turn, D.Reynders said that "Belgium, together with the European Union, supports Ukraine on its way of development", and expressed interest in reforms that are being conducted in our country.
He declared that Belgium is ready to cooperate with the Committees of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in the part of implementing reforms, particularly, reforms of self-government.
In this context, D.Reynders introduced an initiative to hold a conference on all aspects of work of local self-government with the support of Ukrainian and Belgium Parliaments.
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