Ukraine Believes in United Europe - President Yanukovych

KYIV, Ukraine, June 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

The faith of Ukrainians in the United Europe and their desire one day to become a part of it have not been shaken, said President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych during his address at the 18th Central Europe Summit of Heads of States in Bratislava, Slovakia. The European Union has served as an example of political, economic, and social success as well as a catalyst for systematic social and economic reforms currently underway in Ukraine, he noted before 20 presidents and envoys participating in the event.

Europe is at a critical stage of exiting the economic crisis, noted the Ukrainian president in his address. The continuation of the EU expansion with the prospect of inclusion of Ukraine into the unified European political and economic area is an important instrument of overcoming economic crisis, he added. Ukraine's ambition to become a part of the United Europe comes not only from the geopolitical realities and economic feasibility but from its natural European identity, history, culture and values of unity with the rest of the European community, said the Ukrainian head of state.

Recently, Ukraine has participated in important multilateral processes: held the presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in 2011 and the presidency of the Central European Initiative in 2012. This year Ukraine Chairs the OSCE. This allows Ukraine to implement its European nature, to make its contribution to the consolidation and unification of Europe, reiterated the Ukrainian president.

It's been noted that Ukraine - Europe cooperation could be mutually beneficial through the joint projects in the area of economy and investment, development of regional and cross-border cooperation, energy security, as well as through educational, scientific and cultural exchanges, tourism and development of direct contacts and friendly relations between Ukrainian and the EU citizens.

During the Summit the Ukrainian President held meetings with Presidents of Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Austria and Macedonia and commended them for the support of Ukrainian European integration aspirations.

On June 12-13, 2013, President of Slovakia Ivan Gašparovič hosted the high-profile presidential Summit under the Growth Strategy for Post-Crisis Recovery motto. The objective was to discuss the ways to consolidate public finance, maintain employment and economic recovery and for Europe to find its place in the post-crisis world.