13 November 2015, 16:40
On November 12, members of the deputy group for interparliamentary relations with the Kingdom of the Netherlands had a meeting with a delegation of the Embassy of the Netherlands headed by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Ukraine Kees Jan Rene Klompenhouwer. The Embassy delegation was formed of deputy mission head, advisor of the Embassy of the Netherlands Maaike van Koldam, and senior employee of the political department of the Embassy of the Netherlands Olena Tsybenko. The meeting was initiated by head of the deputy group Nataliya Katser-Buchkovska.
Using an opportunity, Nataliya Katser-Buchkovska thanked the delegation for support of Ukraine's European aspirations as well as for practical assistance provided by the Netherlands in the process of building the civil society in Ukraine. The Parties discussed countries' bilateral cooperation, pointed out key aspects of coordination work in the context of exchange of information about Ukraine, intensification of information element of the referendum on the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU.
According to the people's deputy, Ukraine finds it very important to hold comprehensive awareness campaign, tell about European aspirations of the Ukrainians, results of the reforms and show investment opportunities of the state on the eve of the referendum on the ratification of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Nataliya Katser-Buchkovska stressed readiness for constructive and fruitful cooperation in this field. She confirmed that Ukraine would do its best to facilitate the level of awareness among the citizens of the Netherlands. In her words, provision of information materials, assistance in organization of visits of leading Dutch media to Ukraine aimed at objective coverage of situation in the country have to become those instruments of bilateral cooperation able to let citizens of the Netherlands make conscious choice [at the referendum]. Therefore, citizens of the Netherlands will have an opportunity to receive unbiased information, gradually getting more confident that Ukraine is a real European country, the country supporting sharing European values.
The people's deputies and representatives of the Dutch Embassy also discussed cooperation of the countries in economic, investment and culture projects. Nataliya Katser-Buchkovska expressed hope that the Embassy of the Netherlands would further provide comprehensive assistance in informing Dutch citizens and business structures about opportunities Ukraine is ready to offer.
The people's deputy noted that the parliamentary diplomacy was aimed at promoting Ukraine's interests all over the world. She said that the interparliamentary group of friendship had an important task: to deepen relations with the Kingdom of the Netherlands on the eve of the referendum on the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU.
The people's deputies agreed to hold next meeting of the deputy group in a more extended format soon.