On Friday, Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, met the Leaders of Parliaments of the European States in the Framework of the European Conference of the Presidents of Parliaments

On Friday, Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, met the leaders of Parliaments of the European States in the framework of the European Conference of the Presidents of Parliaments. 

Meeting Marios Garoyian, President of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus, the Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine invited him to make an official visit to Ukraine. He also stated that the meetings during the visit would foster development of bilateral relations, in which "people´s democracy" should play a key role.  

Mr Garoyian highly appreciated the relations between Ukraine and Cyprus, calling for extension of cooperation. The President of the House of Representatives laid emphasis on the fruitful bilateral cooperation on the international level, stressing that representatives of his country support Ukraine at all parliamentary forums and advocate Ukraine´s interests in the world.

The Parties reached an agreement to boost the activity of the parliamentary groups of friendship, which should communicate more often and more efficiently.

Mr Garoyian expects that as an important and authoritative European country, Ukraine will exert efforts to provide security and stability in the region.  

The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine agreed to the necessity of making bilateral relations more systematic, underscoring the importance of parliaments in this process. He believes that legislative bodies of both states should encourage the executive authority to extend Ukrainian-Cypriot relations.

Mr Lytvyn drew attention to the fact that Ukrainian businessmen invested USD 6 billion into the economy of Cyprus, while the Cypriot entrepreneurs invested USD 8 billion into the Ukrainian economy. Thus, he called for drafting and signing an agreement on prevention of double taxation and mutual protection of investments.    

The Head of the Parliament also stated that Ukraine relies on the support of its European integration pursuits on the part of Cyprus, especially in such matters as signing of agreements on association, free trade zone and alleviation of visa regime. Mr Lytvyn believes that visa regime with Cyprus should be alleviated at least in the summer period to facilitate mutual development of tourism. 

The President of the House of Representatives declared that his country would support European integration pursuits of Ukraine, as "the friends and supporters are not betrayed."

The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine also called for the immediate settlement of the ‘Cypriot question´ on the grounds of the international legislation.

Mr Lytvyn expressed his gratitude for the high level of conference organization. He is convinced that it will be of great international importance, as the issues under discussion "will determine the present and the future image of the human community."

Meeting Gianfranco Fini, President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, Mr Lytvyn called for enhancing the level of bilateral relations.

In his turn, Mr Fini stated that current situation "is now favourable more than ever" for the extension of cooperation.  

The President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies declared that cooperation with Ukraine became more significant for the governmental and public Italian institutions, considering expansion and activization of the Ukrainian community in Italy. "This community makes no problems, and its members integrate into the Italian society, Mr Fini stated. Ukrainian community in Italy can act as a mediator in the development and extension of our relations, while Italian institutions should not lag behind."

Mr Lytvyn expressed his gratitude to Mr Fini for his special stand and role in the advocacy of rights of Ukrainian immigrants in Italy. He deems reasonable to sign a respective bilateral agreement.  

Discussing the European integration prospects of Ukraine, Mr Lytvyn stressed that Ukraine "should focus on the domestic reforms." The Head of the Parliament supposes that it will foster pragmatic relations with the European Union. "The issues between Ukraine and the EU concern domestic problems of our country", he stated.

The President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies agreed to this opinion. He stated that as one of the founders of the EU, Italy was convinced that such a large country as Ukraine has all the prerequisites for close and fruitful cooperation with the European Union.

Mr Lytvyn invited Mr Fini to make an official visit to Ukraine, as the visit "will facilitate a breakthrough in our relations."

Meeting Bogdan Borusewicz, President of the Senate of the Republic of Poland, Mr Lytvyn expressed his conviction in the constancy of the standpoint of Poland as a supporter of Ukraine´s interests in the EU institutions.  

The Head of the Parliament stated that Ukraine experienced political stabilization and the launch of drastic economic reforms. "Implementing drastic economic reforms, it is necessary to preserve the achievements in the domains of freedom of speech, democracy, human rights and liberties, bringing democracy and freedom into the economy, V.Lytvyn stated. I expect that such balanced will be reached."

The Parties discussed the matters of cooperation in the framework of preparation for European Football Championship 2012. Mr Lytvyn stated that timely and adequate fulfillment of commitments is a matter of honour for our state, and assured that all the preparation works would be performed within the fixed deadlines. The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine believes that European Football Championship 2012 will unite our countries.

The Parties also dwelled upon the development of bilateral cooperation in the humanitarian and energy sectors.

"Although the authority representatives change in due time, our relations will ascend. It is our history and destiny that designated it", Mr Lytvyn summed up.  

Meeting Ceslovas Jursenas, Deputy Speaker of the Seimas of Lithuania, Mr Lytvyn discussed boosting of bilateral relations and their parliamentary constituent.

The Parties discussed the date of holding a trilateral Ukrainian-Polish-Lithuanian parliamentary assembly, which was scheduled for the first half of the year in Vilnius but was postponed due to the tragic events in Poland.

Mr Lytvyn and Mr Jursenas suggested holding the event in September or October 2010.

The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine also met Ene Ergma, President of the Estonian Parliament.

As it was reported, on 10-12 June, Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, is staying with an official visit in the Republic of Cyprus, participating in the European Conference of Presidents of Parliament.

The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine shall meet PACE President Mevlüt Çavusoglu, the Baroness Helene Hayman, Lord Speaker of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom, and Pavel Gantar, President of the National Assembly of Slovenia.