President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych conducted a meeting with the
President of the European Council, Herman van Rompuy, presidential press office informed.
Welcoming the distinguished guest in Ukraine, the President said that
Ukraine appreciates the fact that the first official visit of the
President of the European Council to Eastern Partnership countries is
being made to our country. "It confirms high attention of the EU to
Ukraine and proves that our country’s strategic course towards European
integration is continuous," he said.
The President reminded
that during his first meeting with Herman Van Rompuy in Brussels on
March 1 this year he had outlined ways to stabilize the situation in
Ukraine, and that the state was able to achieve significant improvements
in this direction.
"Of course our primary goal was to
stabilize the economic situation and create an effective system of
government. Many of the issues we discussed are almost completely
resolved, " he said.
The President said that all the conditions for the beginning of
systemic reforms in Ukraine were created, pointing also to the
establishment of the Committee on Economic Reforms under his
chairmanship, creation of the Corruption Fighting Committee, etc..
The President also highlighted a number of approved and elaborated
important bills aimed at overcoming the economic crisis and fighting
corruption, particularly the draft Tax Code, the Law on Foundations of
Domestic and Foreign Policy, Public Procurement Law, the Law on the
Judiciary and the Status of Judges, etc..
Viktor Yanukovych also drew attention to the improvement of economic
situation in Ukraine with growth in GDP of 6.1%, industrial production –
of 12.5% and exports – of 28%, and budget deficit decrease.
The President stressed the government attaches great importance to
improving investment attractiveness of the Ukrainian economy. In
particular, it is planned this year to at least halve the number of
permits and licenses necessary to conduct entrepreneurial activity.
Of course, said President Yanukovych, implementation of reforms
requires considerable financial support. Therefore, he said, Ukraine
hopes to sign the program of cooperation with the IMF for the next 2.5
years soon in order to get 4.9 billion dollars.
The President thanked the leadership of the European Council for a positive decision to grant Ukraine the macro-financial assistance of 500 million Euros.
Speaking about Ukraine's foreign policy, the President stressed that
European integration was defined in the Law on Foundations of Domestic
and Foreign Policy of Ukraine approved on May 1.
The Ukrainian
side hopes that it will sign the Association Agreement with the EU
already in 2010 in order to achieve positive results in introducing
Ukraine - EU FTA and beginning implementation of the visa-free travel
action plan, said Viktor Yanukovych. Sure, he added, the visa-free
travel action plan will require great work of the Foreign Ministries of
Ukraine and the EU countries. "But we are ready for that work,” he said.
Speaking about the "Eastern Partnership", Viktor Yanukovych
noted the importance of development of dialogue between the EU and
Belarus. According to the Head of State, this dialogue will help to
establish EU-Belarus relations, in which "Ukraine is ready to act as a
bridge”.
"Rapprochement of Belarus and the EU, strengthening
of the European vector in this country’s foreign policy, integration of
the Belarusian economy into the EU market meet national interests of
Ukraine," said President Yanukovych.
Speaking about
Ukrainian-Russian relations, the President stressed that currently
Ukraine has restored normal relations with Russia and perceives them as
long-term, pragmatic and mutually beneficial. "We are convinced that we
should focus on achieving real results,” said Viktor Yanukovych,
pointing to quite significant growth of turnover between our countries
and our proposal on modernization of the Ukrainian gas transit system
jointly with the EU.
The President noted that we are working
on deepening cooperation with Russia in rocket building and space
industry, aircraft construction, shipbuilding, nuclear power,
transportation, energy and agricultural engineering, other
knowledge-intensive and high technology sectors.
"Mutually-beneficial economic cooperation between Ukraine and CIS
countries is going on with preserving Ukraine's strategic course to join
the EU and Ukraine's commitments to the WTO," he said.
Спасибі за Вашу активність, Ваше питання буде розглянуто модераторами найближчим часом