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| “Ukraine has accomplished more progress in the past three years than over the previous twenty years” |
| Kyev, 12.04.2017 |
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| The Slovak Republic continues supporting the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. We see no other way out from the crisis in the south-east of the state than a political process based on consistent implementation of the Minsk Agreements. This was the outcome from today’s (11 April) working visit by Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Miroslav Lajčák, in Kyiv, accompanied by the heads of diplomacy of the Czech Republic (Lubomír Zaorálek) and Hungary (Péter Szijjártó).
During the receptions by top officials from Ukraine including the President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Andriy Parubiy and Prime Minister of Ukraine, Volodymyr Groysman, and also at the meeting with his departmental counterpart, Pavlo Klimkin, Minister Lajčák assured his partners of Slovakia’s ongoing support for Ukraine’s association and reform process and congratulated the citizens of Ukraine on the important vote by the European Parliament that approved a visa-free regime for Ukraine with the European Union.
“Ukraine is our neighbour and friend and for that reason we are ready to assist you in your effort to ensure a better life for Ukrainian citizens. The visa liberalization with the EU, the outcome of the reforms implemented so far, is a specific step and an expression of trust by the EU countries and encouragement for Ukraine for the next challenging actions while staying on the started reform track. We also believe that the process of ratification of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement will be completed in a few months,” stated Lajčák while discussing the internal political situation and the course of the reform process in the country with his counterparts.
He emphasized in that regard that while Slovakia does appreciate the reform effort so far by the Ukrainian government, it should not be relaxed; to the contrary, it needs to be stepped up, especially in its transition to the stage of practical implementation of the approved reforms. “We appreciate that over the past three years Ukraine has accomplished more progress in its reform efforts than in the preceding twenty years. We support this effort and offer Kyiv sharing our experience from our transformation to assist our neighbour to become a stable, prosperous and democratic European state. Ukraine faces two major challenges, namely reforms and the conflict in the south-east of the country. But I do not think that you can enjoy the luxury of addressing one after the other; these processes have to run in parallel,” underscored Minister Lajčák.
With regard to the security situation in the eastern region of Ukraine, the ministers expressed full support for the Minsk process and its practical implementation. “The conflict in the east of the country weakens Ukraine and increases the risk of instability. Ongoing violation of the truce and escalation of armed clashed does not help the effort to achieve a sustainable solution. To the contrary, the conflict has already started displaying clear signs of moving into the stage of a frozen conflict,” noted the head of Slovak diplomacy.
During the discussions in the parliament the ministers touched also upon the draft laws to change the way in which ethnic minorities living in the territory of Ukraine can use their languages. The Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament, Parubiy, assured the ministers in that regard that he will do all he can for protection of the rights of members of minorities in Ukraine. The ministers also met with representatives of the opposition parliamentary parties in the premises of the parliament and discussed various reforms, especially the ones concerning combating corruption and accomplishing the rule of law.
In the early evening, Foreign Ministers Lajčák, Szijjártó and Zaorálek, together with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Klimkin, left Kyiv on board the Slovak government aircraft directly for Warsaw to attend the Visegrad Four ministerial meeting with the Eastern Partnership officials that starts on Wednesday, 12 April.
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Address : Euro-Brew Ltd., Hlboká 22, 917 01 Trnava, Slovakia
Tel. : +421 33 53 418 53, Fax : +421 33 53 418 52, E-mail : info@eurobrew.sk |
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