President Yanukovych: Ukraine has plans to expand its participation in the Commonwealth

President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych took part in the Moscow CIS Summit, held in Moscow Friday, December 10.

In his speech at the event, the President of Ukraine emphasized that it is the first time he takes part in the annual CIS Summit since assuming the office. Viktor Yanukovych noted that in this context he would like to inform those gathered about Ukraine's position on the CIS and our country’s approaches to further cooperation within the Commonwealth.

He said that Ukraine regards its relations with post-Soviet countries an important direction of its foreign policy in terms of realization of its economic interests.

"This approach is particularly relevant now, when our country is not only trying to overcome the effects of the global financial crisis, but also strengthen ties with its neighbors and closest partners. It meets our basic security and economic interests. We believe that the CIS is a forum that has proven to be successful,” Viktor Yanukovych stressed.

He also noted that "Ukraine has recently been declaring and practically changing its attitude to the Commonwealth of Independent States. Since March this year our state has already taken a number of concrete steps towards the revitalization of its participation in the Commonwealth. In particular, Ukraine takes effective participation in all the meetings of the CIS governing bodies at the highest level."

In this context, the President reminded that he had appointed the new representative of Ukraine in the CIS Economic Council. "I signed decrees on adherence to the decisions on the National Coordinators and the Rules of Procedure of the CIS Bodies. The formal procedures of appointment of the National Coordinator to the Commonwealth from Ukraine are currently being carried out", Viktor Yanukovych said, adding that another important step taken this year was resuming Ukraine's participation in the missions of CIS observers at elections and referendums.

“We are currently studying the possibility of Ukraine joining some of the CIS sectoral cooperation institutions and lifting reservations on a number of Commonwealth documents. This includes the Strategy of Economic Development of the Commonwealth until 2020 and the Action Plan of its realization," he said.

The President also said that Ukraine attentively considers lifting reservations on the Concept of Further Development of the CIS. "We take active part in the free trade agreement negotiations. Hopefully, the decisions liberalizing trade between our countries will be taken next year," the President of Ukraine said.

"Ukraine has plans to expand its participation in the Commonwealth not only in economic but also in humanitarian area. We study the possibility of lifting reservations on the Agreement on Humanitarian Cooperation and joining the Council for Humanitarian Cooperation and the International Fund for Humanitarian Cooperation. This process is to be concluded formally in 2011.

Ukraine will host the next CIS Intellectuals Forum. In addition, in 2011 Ukraine will be chairing the meeting of the CIS Economic Council.

We are ready to implement the concept of annual Commonwealth forum ‘Yalta business meetings’ and conduct it in 2011 in Crimea.

We are also grateful to the Commonwealth for support in holding the next meeting of the CIS Foreign Ministers in Ukraine," Viktor Yanukovych said.

As to the agenda of the Summit, Viktor Yanukovych noted that Ukraine is ready to sign or support a large number of the proposed documents.

"The issue of increasing food security is very important for us all, because of global climate change and instability of the global financial system.

The issues of fighting terrorism, crime, human and drug trafficking are topical for Ukraine too.

Therefore, adoption of the appropriate programs on formation and perfection of cooperation mechanisms in combating these threats meets current realities,"- Viktor Yanukovych said.

According to the Ukrainian President, "The Address on the Occasion of 25^th Anniversary of the Chornobyl Disaster, is relevant and too, and will attract attention of the world to this great and important problem.”

In this regard, the President reminded that under the auspices of the UN it is planned to hold the International Conference ‘25^th Anniversary of the Chornobyl Disaster’ in late April 2011 in Kyiv.

"We expect that high-ranking officials, members of governments from around the world, heads of international organizations, representatives of academia and the public will visit the event.

I hope that Commonwealth countries will take active part in the conference and support international Chernobyl projects,” Viktor Yanukovych said.

He expressed hope that President Emomali Rahmon as leader of the country to preside in the CIS in 2011, will dedicate due attention to this issue.

President Yanukovych wished the participants fruitful work at the Summit.