The Council of Europe Promises Assistance in Ukrainian Reforms

KYIV, Ukraine, June 21, 2011 -

The President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary
Assembly Mevlüt Cavusoglu and the Secretary
General of the Council of Europe Parliamentary
Assembly Thorbjorn 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 Cavusoglu,
addressed the deputies of the PACE, and had a separate
meeting with the Secretary General of the Council of
Europe Thorbjorn 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 Cavusoglu to discuss the role of
Ukraine presiding over the PACE. Concluding the meeting with Viktor
Yanukovych, Mevlüt Cavusoglu 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 Thorbjorn 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.

For more information, contact Maria Ivanova +380443324784 news at wnu-ukraine.com, Project Manager at Worldwide News Ukraine