14 October 2009, 09:18
More than 100 representatives of twenty national parliaments of NATO member-countries, its partners, observers, inter-parliamentary institutions, non-governmental organizations and independent experts take part in the seminar.
The first day of the seminar was dedicated to the issues concerning Ukraine´s pursuit towards Euro-Atlantic integration.
O.Lavrynovych, First Vice-Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, addressed the participants of the seminar with a congratulatory address and stated that no country could secure its stable development under the conditions of present-day modern challenges without assistance, which presupposed the necessity of full-scale international cooperation. Ukraine can not provide for its security, unless it closely cooperates both with NATO, and Russia.
In his turn, H.Ormel, NATO Parliamentary Assembly Vice-President, positively appraised the level of inter-parliamentary cooperation between NATO and Ukraine, appraised the resolution of NATO Bucharest (April 2008) concerning prospects of Ukraine´s and Georgia´s membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and declared the all-round support of the Parliamentary Assembly of Ukraine´s pursuits to NATO.
Dwelling upon the Ukraine´s cooperation with NATO, M.Osnach, Director of the Foreign Ministry's NATO Department, chief reporter of the 72nd Seminar, stressed that the Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine, including its legislatively set course for NATO membership, had been determined by the civilization choice of a young independent country for the benefit of European values. According to the reporter, after the Bucharest Summit and implementation of the national Ukraine-NATO programs, our country obtained a clear-cut political prospect of membership in NATO, as well as the necessary practical tools for the achievement of the goal.
J.Sherr, another chief reporter of the Seminar, leader of the Russia and Eurasia Programme of the British Royal Institute of International Affairs, drew attention to the challenges that Ukraine is meeting on its way to the membership. He singled out three factors: "Ukraine itself" an unstable political situation in the country; negative influence of t he Russian factor (according to J.Sherr, this is not the problem of Ukraine); the stand of the West (NATO) that has become less pragmatic in the struggle for a stable and secure Ukraine. Thus, the focus of NATO-Ukraine cooperation shall be shifted from the talks concerning membership and NATO Membership Action Plan to the actual practical integration.
M.Kmit, Head of Lviv Regional State Administration, and A.Sadovyi, Lviv Mayor, addressed the participants of the seminar.
The Seminar will continue its work on 14-15 October.