|
 
Parliamentarian Hryhoriy Illyashov, the Head of the Permanent Delegation to NATO's Parliamentary Assembly: "It is up to the Ukrainian people to decide whether Ukraine should join NATO"
27.10.2006, 13:16
On October 23-26, the Ukrainian parliamentary delegation visited Brussels on the acquaintance visit on invitation of the International Secretariat of NATO's Parliamentary Assembly.
The delegation included the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for the National Security and Defence Anatoliy Kinakh, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee Vitaliy Shybko, the Chairman of Parliamentary Committee for the European Integration Ivan Boky and some other parliamentarians.
During round-table discussions and meetings with officials of the International Secretariat of NATO's Parliamentary Assembly, and the U.S., Canadian, Lithuanian and Polish Ambassadors to NATO, we had an opportunity to make a closer acquaintance and exchange thoughts and proposals, for example, regarding the issue of Ukraine's NATO membership, which is now widely debated in Ukraine.
Our Western partners repeatedly noted that it is up to the Ukrainian people to make up their mind on such an important issue as Ukraine's entry to NATO.
According to the U.S. Ambassador to NATO Victoria Nuland, instead of arguing about the entry issue and stirring up emotions, we'd rather broaden cooperation in different areas.
NATO representatives view with understanding the changes happening in Ukraine. So, they do not make hasty conclusions, and they rather offer to get to know each other better, carefully weigh up all pros and cons, and only then make a decision.
It should be noted that members of the Ukrainian delegation and the Head of Ukraine's Mission to NATO, Ambassador Kostyantyn Morozov agreed with such an approach.
During our meetings in Brussels it was repeatedly stressed that presently we should focus our cooperation on such areas as tackling terrorism, illegal migration, drug trade, non-proliferation of WMDs, etc.
As for Ukraine's entry to NATO, time will show. | |
|
| 
| 
| 
