Development of strategic partnership with Poland to continue occupy a prominent place among foreign policy priorities of Ukraine – Volodymyr Rybak
28 January 2013, 15:14
Development of strategic partnership with Poland will continue occupying a prominent place among foreign policy priorities of Ukraine.
This was stressed by the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Rybak during the meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Poland to Ukraine Henrik Litvin.
Volodymyr Rybak noted that during the last few years development of bilateral relations is extremely active and aims at achieving actual results. In particular, 22 Ukrainian-Polish meetings were held both at the highest and high levels during the last year. The Chairman of the Parliament stressed that the Ukrainian Party is interested in further comprehensive development and pragmatic cooperation between our states.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada stated that in recent years, cooperation between Ukrainian and Polish parliaments focused on settling most topical issues of bilateral relations which are, first and foremost, the issues connected with the support of Euro-integrational aspirations of our state by Poland, holding of the European Football Championship Euro-2012, cultural and humanitarian component of relations, as well as historical past of our nations, etc.
“We need to use possibilities elaborated during 2012 to the maximum, in order to deepen fruitful dialogue at the level of specialized committees and commissions of both countries,” he said.
Volodymyr Rybak stressed the importance of continuing fruitful cooperation with Polish parliament both at bilateral and trilateral levels, highly appreciating the results of Inter-Parliamentary Assemblies “Ukraine-Poland” and “Ukraine-Poland-Lithuania”.
The Chairman of the Parliament informed that today, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine intensively works on forming deputy groups for inter-parliamentary relations, including with the Republic of Poland and the Republic of Lithuania. In particular, 87 people’s deputies showed their willingness to become members of Ukraine-Poland Friendship Group.
Volodymyr Rybak confirmed his intention to visit Poland in order to participate in the Fifth Meeting of the Trilateral Inter-Parliamentary Assembly “Ukraine-Poland-Lithuania”, noting that he has informed his colleague, Marshal of the Senate Bogdan Borusewicz by the respective letter of January 23 this year. “At present, we are expecting an agreed proposal on the part of Poland regarding timing of the event,” he said.
Volodymyr Rybak invited his Polish colleagues to Kyiv to participate in the Seventh Meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly “Ukraine-Poland”, scheduled for the second half of this year.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada expressed confidence that final timing of Inter-Parliamentary Assemblies “Ukraine-Poland” and “Ukraine-Poland-Lithuania” shall be agreed in the nearest future. Particularly, right after the delegations of the Verkhovna Rada, that will participate in the Assemblies, are established.
In his turn, Mr. Ambassador highly appreciated high level of bilateral relations, noting that Ukraine “is the most important neighbor of Poland”. “Contacts at all levels are extremely intensive,” he said.
Henrik Litvin named inter-parliamentary cooperation to be an extremely important part of bilateral cooperation, particularly, the work of bilateral and trilateral Assemblies. He expressed conviction that the meeting of the trilateral Inter-Parliamentary Assembly “Ukraine-Poland-Lithuania” will be held as soon as possible.