Andrii Parubii: Ukraine, Poland must do their best to avoid historic disputes to facilitate further interstate cooperation

Press Service of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Secretariat
26 June 2016, 17:00

Within the framework of Local Development Forum, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Andrii Parubii discussed wide range of bilateral cooperation issues with Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland Marek Kuchcinski.

Andrii Parubii thanked the Polish colleagues for an opportunity to hold this forum to discuss interstate cooperation, specific plans of Poland and Ukraine for improvement of existing and creation of new infrastructure facilities — new border checkpoints, railway communication. Besides, he said that the parties discussed interstate Europe-Carpathians cooperation, Ukraine's participation in discussions and forums within the Visegrad Four to be chaired by Poland from July 1, 2016. Andrii Parubii noted that the forum participants discussed the establishment of the Intermarium of the Baltic, Black and Adriatic seas.

The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada appreciated Mr. Kuchcinski's valuable advices touching more intensive cooperation in the field of visa-free regime, intensification of the European integration process, and possible involvement of Ukraine as an observer in the Visegrad Four. He said that the parties also discussed other forms of cooperation.

In turn Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland Marek Kuchcinski said that the dimension of the interparliamentary cooperation grows not only within the Eastern Europe, but also within the associated members of the European Union. "There is a need to intensify, expand contacts at the levels of the parliaments of Ukraine and Poland," he said.

Mr. Kuchcinski noted that Ukraine is first of all considered as a country co-participating in enhancement of security for the countries of the Eastern Europe, the countries having huge dramatic experience in the communist totalitarianism.

"We do think about joint future, guaranteed security and support," the Marshal of the Sejm said. He said that Poland considers Ukraine to be a state engaged in developing and consolidation of its democratic system, a state with the final striving for its European future.

Mr. Kuchcinski said Poland supports Ukraine, Ukrainian people and the state of Ukraine in all three prospects. "We want to cooperate in different fields," he added. He also commented on the decision taken at the referendum in Britain: "It is an opportunity to and necessity for change the way of functioning of the European institutions, such as the European Parliament and the European Commission. Therefore, there is an opportunity to amend the provisions that would simplify Ukraine's way to the united Europe for Ukraine."