The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Rybak supports activation of Ukrainian-British relations at all levels
26 February 2013, 12:27
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Rybak supports activation of Ukrainian-British relations at all levels.
On Tuesday, during the meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Great Britain to Ukraine Simon Smith, Volodymyr Rybak stressed that Ukraine attaches primary importance to development of bilateral relations with the United Kingdom. He believes that today, after parliamentary elections and formation of new composition of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, it is expedient to activate bilateral dialogue at all levels, and primarily at the high one.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada hopes for further development of cooperation in the inter-parliamentary sector as well as for active and fruitful relations between Ukrainian parliament members and British colleagues. In particular, Volodymyr Rybak expressed an idea that establishment of the group for inter-parliamentary relations with Great Britain in the newly elected Ukrainian Parliament will provide positive impetus for cooperation within inter-parliamentary assemblies of the Council of Europe, the OSCE, and NATO. According to him, 68 people’s deputies have already applied for membership in this group.
The Chairman of the Parliament expressed gratitude to British diplomats, parliamentarians and deputies of the European Parliament in respect of the United Kingdom for fruitful participation in monitoring last year elections to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
Volodymyr Rybak highly appreciated fruitful cooperation between the Verkhovna Rada and the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, expressing hope that the Foundation will renew its long-term cooperation programs with the Ukrainian Parliament.
He said that the Ukrainian Party is interested in continuing active work over intensifying bilateral trade and economic cooperation. The Chairman of the Parliament supported extension of bilateral cooperation at regional level.
In his turn, Mr. Ambassador noted that Ukraine is a country with “enormous potential”. Simon Smith expressed confidence that this potential will be fully realized due to joint efforts of Ukraine, the EU countries and the European institutions.