On Tuesday, Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, met Leaders of the Ukrainian Society in Switzerland
08 June 2011, 10:52
On Tuesday,
Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, met leaders of the
Ukrainian Society in Switzerland.
Head of the Ukrainian Society Andrii Luzhnytskyi informed the Head of the Parliament about the life of Ukrainian community in Switzerland. The community includes more than 5,5 thousand Ukrainians. However, the Head of the Ukrainian Society regretted that Ukrainian community in Switzerland is rather scattered, while most Ukrainians live in Zurich and Bern.
The Head of the Ukrainian Society informed that the Strategy of Cooperation between Switzerland and Ukraine for 2011-2014 had recently been adopted. The Strategy was developed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs of Switzerland, Ukrainian Embassy in Switzerland, Ukrainian Society in Switzerland, and Ukrainian businessmen. This document formalizes the intention of Switzerland to support the reforms of Ukraine aimed at sustainable economic development. According to the Strategy, Ukraine will be granted financial assistance in the amount of CHF 60 million. This document envisages implementation of several bills on healthcare, local self-government, environment, and introduction of technologies in the use of renewable energy sources.
The participants of the meeting unanimously called for shaping the positive image of Ukraine in the world. Along these lines, V.Lytvyn attached great importance to the student exchange, and implementation of common scientific humanitarian projects. The Head of the Ukrainian Parliament promised to meet B.Paton, President of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, on returning to Ukraine to discuss this issue.
A. Luzhnytskyi suggested setting up T.H.Shevchenko Center in Switzerland.
The Parties also informed about the intentions of the Ukrainian Society members to attend the Ukrainian World Congress in Ukraine, which takes place on the eve of the 20th anniversary of independence of Ukraine.
According to A. Luzhnytskyi, Swiss Ukrainians are united by the big
Christian feasts, as these days are marked by common festivities and a church service
in Ukrainian language. The Society is planning to celebrate the 20th
anniversary of Ukraine´s independence together with the Ukrainian Embassy. The
concert of Ukrainian musicians will also take place. The Head of the Society stated that
delegations from different regions of Ukraine traditionally visit such
festivities.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine will also visit the factory of the dairy producer Emmi.
On Tuesday, the parliamentary delegation headed by V.Lytvyn also visited the Einsiedeln Abbey a center of cultural and historical heritage of Switzerland. It is after establishment of this abbey that separate cantons united into a single state.
The parliamentary delegation visited the library of the abbey, which contains more than 50 thousand books, the first of them counting more than thousand years.
As reported, on June 7-9, Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, is staying with an official visit in the Swiss Confederation.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is to meet President of Switzerland Micheline Anne-Marie Calmy-Rey, President of the National Council of Switzerland Jean-René Germanier, President of the Council of States Hansheiri Inderkum, and mayor of Bern Alexander Tschäppät.