The Council of Europe Promises Assistance in Ukrainian Reforms

Kyiv, June 21, 2011. The President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Thorbjørn Jagland promised assistance with Ukrainian reforms. Such statement was released during the visit of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to Strasbourg on June 21, 2011. In the course of the visit the Ukrainian leader met with the President of the PACE Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, addressed the deputies of the PACE, and had a separate meeting with the Secretary General of the Council of EuropeThorbjørn Jagland.

The address of the Ukrainian President to the members of PACE was focused on the issues of the ongoing reforms in Ukraine in the areas of constitutional law, parliamentary election procedures and corruption prevention, as well as the European security and human rights protection in Europe.

Viktor Yanukovych noted the importance of the next step of Ukraine’s integration into Europe – creation of a free trade zone with the EU. The final milestone defined by the Ukrainian leader had been the introduction, by the European Union, of the visa free regime for the Ukrainian citizens. “European integration is a priority,” said the President of Ukraine addressing the parliamentarians. “This idea has united the Ukrainian society.”

The President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych met with the President of the PACE Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu to discuss the role of Ukraine presiding over the PACE. Concluding the meeting with Viktor Yanukovych, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said that the Council of Europe supports both the priorities set by Ukraine during its presidency in the Council of Europe and the reforms that are currently being conducted in Ukraine – constitutional, election and anti-corruption reforms in particular.

While in Strasbourg, Viktor Yanukovych also met with Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland. Approving of the reforms in Ukraine, Jagland noted that the Council of Europe would provide all the necessary assistance for the reforms in Ukraine.

As a result of the visit of the President Yanukovych to Strasbourg, Ukraine has obtained the Council of Europe’s support with its PACE initiatives as well as with its domestic reforms towards becoming a more advanced democracy. Ukraine has been a member of the Council of Europe for over 16 years and now it is presiding over the PACE.