Volodymyr Lytvyn: Slovakia is a Close and Good Neighbour for Ukraine, so Ukraine wants to develop Mutually Beneficial Cooperation with it
On Monday, Chairman of the
Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
Volodymyr Lytvyn met Minister
of Foreign Affairs of Slovak
Republic Mikuláš
Dzurinda.
The Head of the Parliament stressed that Slovakia is a close and good neighbour for Ukraine, so Ukraine wants to develop mutually beneficial cooperation with it. "We are connected by long-lasting historical ties, traditional friendship, stable non-problematic relations, and national interests," he stated. "It concerns not only bilateral cooperation, but also regional and all-European dimensions."
V.Lytvyn stated that Slovakia is an important partner of Ukraine in the European Union. He expects further cooperation in all spheres. Thus, he stressed that positive trends and figures of bilateral trade confirm strengthening of economic cooperation between the states. He suggested using available capacities in the trade-economic and investment cooperation.
The Head of the Ukrainian Parliament also noted a well-established bilateral cooperation in the inter-regional and transfrontier spheres, which supports economic development of boundary regions and strengthens personal contacts. He is satisfied with the results of work of the Inter-Governmental Commission on Transfrontier Cooperation. He reminded that contacts between eight regions of Slovak Republic and ten regions of Ukraine had been established.
In his turn, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovak Republic assured the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine that Slovakia supports European integration pursuit of Ukraine, especially in part of signing the Agreement on Association which envisages creation of a free trade zone with the European Union and liberalization of visa regime. Mr Dzurinda reminded of the project "National Convent on the European Union in Ukraine", launched in Kyiv last year, whereby Slovakia shares its experience with Ukraine in part of organization of the national discussion of different aspects of EU functioning, and harmonization of Ukrainian laws with the EU requirements.
In his turn, V.
Lytvyn stated that solution of visa regime issue would tackle the problem of
double citizenship. He also attaches great importance to the national
minorities´ issue, so he stressed that a bilateral Ukrainian-Slovak Commission
on these matters would be useful.
One of the key matters, according to the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, is development of cultural centers, namely, the Center of Ukrainian Culture in Prešov city and the Center of Slovak Culture in Uzhhorod city.
The participants of the meeting called for strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation. V.Lytvyn noted a great capacity of cooperation between the committees and parliamentary friendship groups.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine extended an invitation to the Slovak colleague to visit Ukraine at any convenient time.