It is very important for Ukraine to develop its cooperation with NATO, Verkhovna Rada Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn has said.
"It's currently extremely important for us to develop our cooperation with NATO, with strict observance of the cornerstone principles of the fundamental political values that serve as the foundation of the alliance and the European Union, in particular, the rule of law, freedom of speech and democratic principles of organizing our life," he said while opening a meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Inter-Parliamentary Council in Kyiv on Tuesday.
Lytvyn stressed the need to introduce democracy in the broadest sense of the word in the economic life of Ukraine, so that all have the chance to realize their potential.
He said that Ukraine, as a large European state, had to be involved in large-scale cooperation with the Euro-Atlantic alliance, including the process of developing and creating a new system of European security.
"Now that relations between Ukraine and NATO have been freed from unnecessary politicization, we can and must focus on the consistent implementation of the agreements reached, and use all of the tools in relations between Ukraine and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization outlined by the Charter on a Distinctive Partnership," he said.
Lytvyn said Ukraine would continue to remain a reliable partner for NATO and adhere to the principles of consistency and predictability in its foreign policy.
He said that cooperation with NATO was an important tool for the creation of Ukraine as a strong, democratic and economically developed state.
He recalled that Ukraine had successfully implemented its annual national programs of cooperation with NATO for the third consecutive year.
He said that Ukraine had long established itself as a reliable partner of NATO.
"Ukraine and the alliance cooperate closely in overcoming the effects of emergencies and manmade disasters, as well as in responding to global security challenges," he said.
Lytvyn said Ukraine was the only NATO partner participating in almost all major peacekeeping missions conducted by the alliance.
The speaker pointed to the important role of the Verkhovna Rada in the development of cooperation between Ukraine and NATO.
"NATO is rethinking its place and role in the world order of the 21st century. At the same time, Ukraine has also given an important start to the important processes of optimizing the principles of our domestic and foreign policy," Lytvyn said.
