Sitting of the Sub-Committee on Future Security and Defense Capabilities of NATO PA Committee on Security and Defense was held today in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine

12 October 2009, 16:05

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Mykola Tomenko, the Vice-Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in his opening speech declared: "Irrespective of the presidential elections results, Euro Atlantic choice of Ukraine would not be reviewed as the society and political elite would not let it to be done".

 

M. Tomenko informed that the issue on the future Armed Forces of Ukraine might be one of the most essential during the presidential campaign. According to him, the majority of the candidates are inclined to the fact that the army should be professional one, but there is ambiguities concerning the terms, formation principles etc.

 

Sverre Mirli, the Chairman of NATO delegation, Speaker of the Sub-Committee on Future Security and Defense Capabilities of NATO PA positively appreciates the attempts of Ukraine to achieve NATO membership and support our country in this aiming.

 

Sverre Mirli informed that the Parliamentary assembly studies different approaches concerning the further broadening of NATO and according to his words this visit would result in the delegation report that would be scrutinized by the Parliamentary Assembly.

 

The Members of the Standing Delegation of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in the NATO Parliamentary Assembly declared that the issue concerning the public attitude toward NATO in Ukraine is only raised during the presidential campaign. In common, Ukrainian society does not scrutinize the issue on NATO adjoining as one of the most essential. They announced that for today there are no national public opinion poll results that would prove the support of NATO adjoining.

 

Ukrainian participants expressed interest in the perspective that NATO should give the clear positive signal concerning the Ukrainian membership perspectives. They deem Ukraine in the whole corresponds to this organization entrance criteria and the majority of the countries-participant uphold these attempts.

 

The members of the Sub-Committee on Future Security and Defense Capabilities of NATO PA during the visit are going to visit the Aviation Scientific-Technical Complex named after Antonov and also would take part in Rose-Roth Seminar held by The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine jointly with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.