04 April 2011, 20:34
Within the official visit to the Republic of Serbia on Monday, Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, met leaders and active members of the Ukrainian-Ruthenian community in Serbia.
Representatives of the diaspora emphasised that Serbian authorities assist the community and help preserve its identity. Namely, there are 7 amateur organizations in Serbia that publish "Ridne Slovo" periodical, "Soloveiko" children magazine, television and radio programs in Ukrainian language.
V. Lytvyn stated that Ukraine appreciates its responsibility before the Ukrainians abroad, and emphasised that the President of Ukraine, the Parliament and the Government shall exert every effort to strengthen cooperation between Serbia and Ukraine. According to the Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament, contacts that used to be like solitary instances are of systemic character now due to the efficient inter-parliamentary cooperation.
V. Lytvyn is convinced that Serbia plays "a special role" in provision of stability in Balkan region.
Discussing the problems of bilateral cooperation in economic sector, Volodymyr Lytvyn stated, "We shall go outside the frameworks of the traditional cooperation system, evaluate benefits and strong sides of each Party and exert efforts to achieve positive results."
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada called for maintaining control over the social aspect of bilateral relations, namely, between the groups of friendship, committees and factions. "It is necessary to investigate our common relations in historical respect", declared V. Lytvyn.
V. Lytvyn also suggested that Ukrainian-Ruthenian community should not feel "dislodged", thus systemic cooperation should start and all the necessary contacts should be established.
The Head of the Ukrainian Parliament is convinced that implementation of visa free regime between two states should facilitate the process. According to V. Lytvyn, Serbia has a visa free regime with the EU states, thus effect of the respective Ukrainian-Serbian agreement will be extended onto the relations of Ukraine with the EU states.
V. Lytvyn also considers Serbian experience in this sphere "didactic" for Ukraine. He stated that Ukraine is "one step behind the Republic of Serbia", especially, in the matter of harmonization of domestic legislation with the EU requirements.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada stressed, "When the world experiences hard times, issues of history, culture, religion and international relations become of utmost importance." He deems necessary to adopt the Law on national minority, while the parliament should scrutinize the bill on languages. Volodymyr Lytvyn is convinced that the Parliament should raise prestige of Ukrainian language in such spheres as science, education and information technologies.
V. Lytvyn declared that relations between Ukraine and Serbia "shall develop dynamically, crossing all traditional boundaries."
Discussing domestic political matters, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine explained that democracy in Ukraine "is a child that requires appropriate control and fostering, as only under such conditions will it be useful for the society." "Democracy is an institute and a system", Volodymyr Lytvyn declared, adding that present civilized party and judicial system prove "that there is democracy that is effective and independent for single figures." "We are in motion", he added.
As it was announced before, on April 4-5, V. Lytvyn as the head of the parliamentary delegation is staying with a working visit in the Republic of Serbia.