05 April 2011, 12:53
Within the official visit to the Republic of Serbia on Tuesday, Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, met leaders and members of the Committees on Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia.
The Parties discussed using of experience of Serbia in the fulfillment of priority tasks on the way to the European Union accession and interaction with the European institutions. V.Lytvyn stressed that development of relations with the EU should rely on the understanding of partners´ interests and problems of the European Union.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine stated that accomplishing ‘home assignments´ concerning European integration perspectives, Ukraine should be guided by the standards of European life. He stated that signing of the agreements on association and free trade zone, as well as introduction of a visa free regime with the EU member states meets the European integration interests of Ukraine. V.Lytvyn stressed that Ukraine attaches primary importance to the content of the agreements on association and free trade zone, not to the date of their conclusion.
He expects the said agreements to be signed by the end of 2011.
V.Lytvyn informed that the Verkhovna Rada Committees on European Integration and Foreign Affairs were working upon the documents to be ratified in light of the European perspectives of Ukraine. All documents comply with the international law.
Serbian parliament members stated that the Visa Regime Cancellation Action Plan for Ukraine should be fully implemented to facilitate Ukraine´s accession to the EU.
V.Lytvyn stated that the European Union "is the most successful project, although with some drawbacks." "Not a single European country can withstand the modern challenges alone; the continent should join the efforts to survive," he stated. The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine reminded of the coming 25th anniversary of Chornobyl disaster, which "has become a tremendous humanitarian catastrophe." V.Lytvyn stressed that Chornobyl disaster became the problem of not only Ukraine, Belarus or Russia, but the whole world, as the recent disaster in Japan has proved.
The Parties also discussed implementation of the Eastern Partnership strategy, counteraction to illegal migration, European security and territorial integrity.
Dwelling upon the implementation of the Danube strategy, V.Lytvyn called for "overcoming selfishness of certain states", improving navigation in the Danube, and protecting the environment. "One country can not do it alone," he stressed. The Head of the Parliament also mentioned the initiative of the Roman Pontiff to add pollution of the environment to the list of human sins.