Mission of Ukraine to European Communities

Announcement

Speech of Mr.R.Shpek at the concert of "Pikkardiyska Tertsia"

Dear friends,

Thank you very much for the beautiful evening and for creating such a warm and friendly atmosphere. We appreciate considerable interest that our guests have shown today in Ukrainian culture. I am sure, however, that today you have discovered something new.

My special gratitude goes to our famous Ukrainian ensemble ¨Pikkardiyska Tertsia¨ for coming to Brussels and to charm us all with their unique blend of voices. When we were organizing this concert, we knew about great numbers of your funs in Europe. I am sure that after today's performance these numbers will grow even more.

I think we all agree that tonight we have been united in our appreciation of the performance. It has been possible because the songs we heard are the part of our common values, our common European cultural heritage. We hope that our EU friends do not forget about it and do not deny Ukraine her rightful place as a member of the European family. We all need time to have this dream come true. However, the door must always remain open.

I hope you have noticed that today’s concert has been in fact performed in many languages. I think it is a good signal that, one day, when Ukraine joins the EU, we would hardly have additional problems with translation.

I shall say no more about politics today. Allow me to congratulate you with Christmas and New Year holidays and wish you health, love and happiness.

Our congratulations and words of gratitude also go to the sponsors of today's concerts:

the leading Ukrainian companies:

· System Capital Management,

· Active Bank,

· Interpipe,

our European partners Shell and BP

as well as to the EU-Ukraine Business Council.

I wish you that each year your business prospers and creates new joint projects on the Ukrainian culture. And with our large quantity of ideas we will be very glad to participate in their realisation.

08/02/2011 - MFA of Ukraine created an English language digest about Ukraine «Ukraine-Digest.com»

04/02/2012 - Ukraine is ready to actively join the process of developing new transparent and fair rules of international energy cooperation, President Viktor Yanukovych told journalists in Munich. The President also reiterated the urgency of establishing a trilateral gas transit consortium. "The issue is topical more than ever. We need to tackle it together with Russia and the EU," he said, President’s Press Service informs.

02/02/2012 – “Naftogaz Ukraina” guarantees its obligations on transit of the natural gas to the European countries and inside the country. The company stresses that transit volumes of the natural gas through the territory of Ukraine and off-take of the imported natural gas are at the levels defined by JSC “Gazprom”. An increase in the consumption of the natural gas in Ukraine due to heavy winter conditions is compensated exclusively by the extraction of the gas from Ukrainian underground gas storages.

02/02/2012 - “ 112” emergency number will be operational in all hosting cities of EURO 2012 football Championship (Kyiv, Donets, Lviv and Kharkiv) by May 2012, said Minister for Emergencies of Ukraine Viktor Baloga.

25/01/2012 - President of Ukraine signed a Decree on “Promotion of Development of Civil Society in Ukraine”. The document provides for establishment of a Coordination Council for Development of the Civil Society as an advisory body to the President of Ukraine, as well for its terms of reference and membership. Civil sector is broadly represented in the membership of the Council.

25/01/2012 - Decree on “Formation and Organization of Activities of the Constitutional Assembly” was signed by the President of Ukraine. As it is stated in the document, the President approved the concept of the Constitutional Assembly, its formation and terms of reference as suggested by the Expert Group on Preparation of the Constitutional Assembly and based on the recommendations of the Venice Commission. A balanced approach for membership in the Assembly is suggested: not less than one half of the members shall be eminent constitutional scholars, experts in jurisprudence and in other political and social sciences.

25/01/2012 - “Reporters without Borders” published its annual report on media freedom indexes. Ukraine rated 116 which is a 15-point rise compared to last year position.

22/01/2011 - President on the occasion of Unity and Liberty Day: Only through modernization Ukraine can become strong and modern state. "This is the only way for Ukraine to fulfill itself as a strong and ambitious state in today's globalized and complex world," he said. "I clearly realize this goal. I know how to achieve it. I will act decisively and consistently. I have enough political will to gradually realize our eternal dream - strong independent Ukraine," said Viktor Yanukovych.

17/01/2012 - Viktor Yanukovych congratulates Martin Schulz on election as European Parliament President.
President Yanukovych expressed his hope that the European Parliament would continue supporting our country's European aspirations and further the implementation of the ambitious agenda of Ukraine-EU relations, whose primary task is to complete the Association Agreement. President Viktor Yanukovych also sent a letter to Jerzy Buzek thanking him for the fruitful cooperation and contribution into the development of cooperation between Ukraine and the EU while in the office of President of the European Parliament. "Ukraine highly appreciates your long and consistent support of the European aspirations of our country and strengthening its role on the international scene. During your presidency in the European Parliament special attention has been given to the European future of Ukraine," Viktor Yanukovych said in the letter