Monday, August 30, 2010

President Yanukovych says Ukraine must find its place in NATO concept



August 30, 2010 (UKRINFORM). Ukraine hopes to find its place in the new concept of NATO's cooperation with non-aligned states, President Viktor Yanukovych told reporters in Berlin on Monday following a meeting with German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel, according to UKRINFORM correspondent.
"The North Atlantic alliance is planning to adopt a new concept at the end of this year, "and here Ukraine must find its place," Yanukovych stressed. The German chancellor, in turn, emphasized that Berlin recognizes the path of cooperation with NATO, which Ukraine has chosen as a neutral state. At the same time, Merkel noted that the issue of Ukraine's joining NATO is not on the agenda yet. Asked by reporters whether relations of Kyiv with Moscow do not contradict with relations with the EU and NATO, Merkel said that she sees no problem here. "We in Europe are interested in normal relations between Ukraine and Russia, because it is of great importance for energy security in Europe," she said. At the same time, the head of the German government noted that good relations of Kyiv with Moscow do not contradict Ukraine's approximation to the EU, including the preparation of the Association Agreement. The Ukrainian president also stressed the importance of introducing visa-free regime between Ukraine and the European Union. According to him, "this is a question of the near future". This, Yanukovych added, will be prompted by an agreement on cooperation between Ukraine and Germany in the field of combating organized crime and international terrorism signed by the Ukrainian and the German foreign ministries.

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