14 June 2016, 15:34
The meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Interparliamentary Council and the Rose-Roth Seminar is taking place at the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine within the framework of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. The participants in the first and the second sessions studied two key issues touching the development of relations between Ukraine and NATO — challenges in the foreign policy of Ukraine and the reformation of the defense sector of the country.
Opening the meeting, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Andrii Parubii said Russia's aggressive actions make Ukraine implement the defense reform.
Co-Chair of the Ukraine-NATO Interparliamentary Council Raynell Andreychuk thanked the Ukrainian Parliament for the organization of the event. She reminded that the important NATO summit would take place in Warsaw (Poland) in a month. She also assured of full support of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. Ms. Andreychuk called on every NATO member to be consistent in addressing the issue of the Putin's Russia. The Co-Chair of the Ukraine-NATO Interparliamentary Council expressed confidence that Russia must withdraw its troops from Donbas and release all the political prisoners. She noted that any sanctions can be lifted from Russia only after it de-occupies Crimea.
Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Ivanna Klympush-Tsyntsadze said that all the concerns over possible failure of the Ukrainian Government to succeed in the implementation of economic reforms and the fight against corruption have melted away and added that the course of reforms is gaining new momentum. She said that the European and Euro-Atlantic integration remains Ukraine's top-priority and the major driver of the development of the society and the state on the whole. "The Government of Ukraine is thankful to the Alliance for its support in protecting our territorial integrity and independence," she said. She stressed that Ukraine will deepen the cooperation with NATO to achieve the criteria required to obtain the right to membership of the organization.
Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania to Ukraine Marius Janukonis called the Minsk agreements the only legal document all the actions must be based on. Mr. Janukonis appreciated hard work of Ukraine in all fields especially in the defense sector. He called Ukraine one of the key countries in the European space and added that Ukraine is now defending the whole Europe.
President of the Jean Monnet Foundation and former head of the European Parliament Pat Cox drew attention of the meeting participants to the challenges Europe and the whole world are about to face: the referendum on quit from the EU in Britain, presidential election in the United States, Spain, France and Germany. He noted that Ukraine has faced a number of problems: revolutions, loss of Crimea and Donbas. Mr. Cox also said that Ukraine has lost over 2,000 people in the Donbas conflict and has to solve the issue of almost 1.5 million internally displaced persons. Mr. Cox concluded that Ukraine needs more friends and stability in relations with them. He noted that Ukraine has adopted the proper number of draft laws required for introduction of the visa-free regime with the European Union. Besides, he stressed that no one feels well from the sanctions introduced against the Russian Federation, however, these actions are the important lever of influence. He said the fact that Russia does not meet the requirements of the Minsk agreements gives no ground to lift any sanction against it.
Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister of Ukraine for European integration Olena Zerkal noted that the Russian Federation has violated the statute of the United Nations and other international agreements. "Ukraine has initiated the adoption of the Resolution on the establishment of the international tribunal regarding the Boeing MH17 downed by Russia, however, Russia's veto did not let the tribunal be established. Russia is in war against the whole civilized world and the Kremlin's propaganda is very powerful. The counteraction is clear even at the level of families. Russia finances different European political parties generating doubts as to the Euro-Atlantic unity. The aggressor ruins the foreign policy agendas of the western countries. The sanctions are an effective instrument. The sanctions can make Russia sit at the negotiating table," she said.