Ukraine considers the Republic of Croatia as an important partner in the region of Western Balkans and is interested in strengthening Ukrainian-Croatian cooperation in all spheres – Volodymyr Rybak
12 March 2013, 10:53
Ukraine considers the Republic of Croatia as an important partner in the region of Western Balkans and is interested in strengthening Ukrainian-Croatian cooperation in all spheres, particularly in trade and economic, Euro-integrational, cultural and humanitarian ones and intends to further activate bilateral political dialogue both at higher and the highest levels.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Rybak stressed this during the meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Croatia Tomislav Vidosevic on Tuesday.
According t him, Ukraine is interested in intensification of inter-parliamentary dialogue with Croatia. “The events prove that such dialogue creates proper conditions for strengthening cooperation in all branches,” said Volodymyr Rybak.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada believes that regular meetings of Ukraine-Croatia deputy friendship groups as well as forging working relationships between the chairmen of factions and committees will strengthen inter-parliamentary cooperation. Volodymyr Rybak informed that the deputy group on inter-parliamentary relations with the Republic of Croatia at the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine shall be approved in the nearest time. According to him, as of today, there are 17 claims of the people’s deputies of Ukraine to become members of the group.
Noting that our countries have joint foreign policy goal - accession to the European Union, Volodymyr Rybak congratulated Mr. Ambassador on the results the Republic of Croatia achieved in this direction and wished it to successfully become full member of the EU on July 1 this year. “I am convinced that we will have another sincere friend and partner in the EU. In this context, experience of the Croatian Party will be extremely important for Ukraine, in particular that of the Croatian Sabor in adapting national legislation to the EU legislation”.
The Chairman of the Parliament expressed hope for signing the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement during the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius in November this year, including deepened and comprehensive free trade zone. He noted that our state makes consistent steps in fulfilling Ukraine’s obligations before the European Union and the EU-Ukraine Action Plan.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada said also that Ukraine considers the Republic of Croatia as an important partner in the Southeastern Europe and is interested in further development of Ukrainian-Croatian relations primarily in the sphere of trade and economic cooperation.
However, he regretted that the results of the 2012 prove that we failed to reach the desired level of trade relations between our countries after a dramatic drop in bilateral trade turnover in 2009, due to the global financial crisis.
In this context, Volodymyr Rybak expressed an idea that inter-governmental Ukrainian-Croatian commission on trade and economic cooperation, which is to be held in October this year, is an important tool promoting increase in bilateral trade turnover.
In his turn, Mr. Ambassador stressed high level of relations between our people and countries. Thereat, he appreciated activation of inter-parliamentary component of bilateral relations. “We would like to continue our friendly dialogue at all levels,” said Tomislav Vidosevic. In this context, he expressed wish of the Croatian Party to organize a meeting of the chairmen of the Parliaments of our states.
Tomislav Vidosevic spoke in favor of broadening bilateral cooperation in scientific and cultural spheres both at regional level.
Mr. Ambassador stated also that Croatia “strongly supports” Ukraine’s course to European integration and wants to see our country a “full member of the European family”.