The First Vice Speaker Oleksandr Korniienko met with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe
The First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Korniienko held a working meeting with Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejcinovic-Buric.
“We highly appreciate all the efforts to strengthen solidarity with Ukraine on issues related to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country,” the First Deputy Speaker said.
He also added that last year, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe visited Ukraine and saw the consequences of the actions of the russian federation in Irpin, Bucha and Borodianka. As part of this working trip, Marija Pejcinovic-Buric visited Chernihiv region, where she also got acquainted with the consequences of russian war crimes committed in Ukraine.
At the same time, Oleksandr Korniienko briefed her on the current situation in Ukraine. “We must do everything possible to prevent this war from lasting another year. We are counting on further support from the Council of Europe,” he stressed.
In addition, the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine noted that the voice of the Council of Europe and the possibility of using numerous platforms of intergovernmental, inter-parliamentary, interregional and other cooperation to exert total pressure against the aggressor state are important for Ukraine.
“We call on the Council of Europe to take an active part in the establishment of a special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine,” said Oleksandr Korniienko, adding that a special tribunal is a very important element of comprehensive accountability for the most serious international crimes committed on the territory of Ukraine.
The parties also discussed Ukraine’s European integration path: “Despite the full-scale russian aggression, Ukraine is confidently moving towards EU membership.”
“The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is determined to continue close cooperation with the experts of the Council of Europe and the Venice Commission to best incorporate the conclusions into Ukrainian legislation and ensure compliance with the best European practices and legal standards,” the First Vice Speaker said.
He said that the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine is seen as a flexible and effective tool. That is why Oleksandr Korniienko asked to facilitate the introduction and implementation of a project within the new Action Plan that would greatly facilitate the legislative work of the Parliament of Ukraine and promote interaction with partners and experts.
The meeting was also attended by the members of the Ukrainian Parliament: Olena Shuliak, the Chairperson of the Committee on State Building, Local Governance, Regional and Urban Development, and Mariia Mezentseva, the Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the European Union, the Head of the Permanent Delegation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to PACE.