12 March 2009, 17:36
The sitting was held under the chairmanship of Mykola Tomenko, Vice-Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Co-Chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Council Ukraine-NATO and Assen Agov, Deputy Head of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (PA), Co-Chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Council Ukraine-NATO.
Opening the round table discussion, M.Tomenko, Vice-Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, stressed that relations between Ukraine and the NATO should be considered not as a political, but as a State project.
Assen Agov, Deputy Head of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (PA), emphasized that cooperation with Ukraine would become an important priority since the work of the Parliamentary Assembly was launched, as "Ukraine is an important partner in the expansion of energy security".
The participants of the meeting commented upon the unique importance of reforms in Ukraine and accomplishment of criteria for membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
It was underscored that the parliamentary aspect of cooperation between Ukraine and the NATO was of crucial importance for successful implementation of practical projects and directions of cooperation between Ukraine and the NATO. It comprises three elements: cooperation between The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, legislative support of Ukraine´s orientation for accession of full-fledged membership in the NATO, and parliamentary control over the realization of Euro-Atlantic integration strategy of Ukraine.
The participants of the hearings also discussed the issue concerning cooperation between Ukraine and the NATO within the scope of Eastern Europe, as well as accomplishments and problems concerning implementation of the Ukraine-NATO Action Plan.