President: All the reforms we implement are aimed at European integration

President Viktor Yanukovych appreciates the role of the World Economic Forum as a platform for discussing the most pressing problems in the modern world, he said at a meeting with World Economic Forum founder and executive chairman Klaus Schwab.

“The challenges posed by the times are complex and should be found an adequate response to. Creating the right conditions allows hearing out the position of partners, analyze the short-term perspective and elaborate strategies in different directions,” he said.

The President reiterated the unchangeable strategic course of Ukraine towards integration into the European community. “All the reforms we implement are aimed at European integration. It includes the harmonization of Ukrainian legislation to European standards, comprehensive integrated approach to global reforms; it is a great work that has not been done in Ukraine in 20 years of independence,” said Viktor Yanukovych.

For his part, Klaus Schwab expressed confidence that under the leadership of Viktor Yanukovych Ukraine would reach progress in its European aspirations.

He said the WEF would continue cooperation with Ukraine and supporting its European integration steps.

The WEF founder added that he knew about Ukraine’s efforts to support good relations with states. He expressed confidence that Ukraine can play an important role in the European region.

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Liovochkina: PACE welcomes the policy of Ukrainian authorities to reform the country

MP of Ukraine, member of the Party of Regions parliamentary faction, member of the PACE Monitoring Committee Yulia Liovochkina said that the Assembly welcomes the course of the Ukrainian authorities to reform the country, she said commenting on the PACE resolution on Ukraine.

“The Parliamentary Assembly welcomes the continuing co-operation with the Ukrainian authorities in the framework of the monitoring procedure of the Assembly. It notes with satisfaction that a number of important steps have been undertaken by the authorities in order to honour outstanding accession commitments, including with regard to the fight against corruption. It welcomes the close co-operation developed between the Council of Europe and the Ukrainian authorities in implementing the necessary reforms,” the text of the resolution reads.

According to Yulia Lyovochkin, PACE Co-Rapporteur on Ukraine Mailis Reps in her speech stressed that in our country during recent years has been really done a lot for development of the state, a large number of relevant laws has been adopted, and important reforms are being conducted.

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Defense Ministry to increase reserve troops to 2700 officers

240 reserve officers were trained in 2011, and for today 1700 contract reserve officers in total have been included into the reserve troops, General Lieutenant of Armed Forces HQ Volodymyr Askarov told a briefing, ForUm correspondent reports.

Askarov informed that by the end of 2012 the Defense Ministry intends to increase the reserve troops up to 2700 officers and to enlarge the number of military training bases up to 54.
“Project of the state complex program on reformation and development of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for 2012-2017 provides for increase of reserve troops up to eight thousand officers,” Askarov said.

“In December 2011 the Defense Minister approved a new system of reserve troops training. There is no similar system in any European country. This is a Ukrainian know-how. The new system will let to improve the level of training and keep the troops always ready for action,” the General Lieutenant summed up.

In response to journalists’ question, Askarov specified that training procedure of one reserve troops officer cost 3-3.5 thousand hryvnias annually. There is a certain problem with financing, but the army is settling this issue, according to the official. Askarov also informed that apart from monthly salary reserve troops officers get daily payment at the amount of 30 hryvnias and bonus at a year end.

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Ukrainian army to get missile complex in five years

In 2017 the Ukrainian army will get missile operational tactical complex “Sapsan”, head of the state space agency Yuri Alekseyev told a press conference, ForUm correspondent reports.

“We have signed an agreement with the Defense Ministry on creation of operational tactical missile “Sapsan”. This year the project will be financed, and in 3-4 years we will be ready to test the complex,” he said.

According to Alekseyev, 99% of the complex components are of domestic production. “70 Ukrainian enterprises, including “KRAZ” and “Yuzhmash” will be involved into creation of the machine.

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EU to initial Association Agreement with Ukraine as soon as possible – spokesperson for Ashton

The European Union is hoping to complete initialing the Association Agreement with Ukraine as soon as possible.

Maja Kocijancic, a spokesperson for the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said this in a comment to UKRINFORM.

Preparation for initialing the Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine, including an in-depth and comprehensive free trade area, is a short-term priority, she said, adding, as noted in a statement of the EU-Ukraine summit dated December 2011, this process must be as intensive as possible.

At the same time, the representative of the European foreign affairs commissioner stressed the importance of understanding that technical elaboration of the Agreement is a complex process. To date, lawyers are proofreading the text of the Association Agreement, which has over a thousand pages, Kocijancic explained.

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Plotnikov: We are satisfied with the PACE resolution

Ukrainian parliamentary delegation to PACE is grateful to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe for the attention it paid to our country, stated MP, member of the Party of Regions parliamentary faction Oleksyi Plotnikov after the PACE plenary session on Thursday, January 26.

“We are pleased with the PACE resolution adopted on Thursday, as well as we are satisfied in general with this process,” the MP said, ForUm learned from the press office of the Party of Regions.

“Not all of our amendments have been carried. Unfortunately, the Assembly voted for the possibility of introducing specific sanctions against Ukraine. But let’s still be frank: the sanctions were supported by 46 delegates, 41 were against, 4 – abstained. Therefore, firstly, there is no real majority. And, secondly, there is still the second formula of possible sanctions that maybe applied to any country in the world. There is nothing exclusive here,” the politician added.

“In general, I would like once again to thank the Assembly for attention to Ukraine, that it marked the important points that we need to work on. And in addition – let’s not forget that after all – it is not a reproach to the current government,” Oleksyi Plotnikov summed up.

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In 2013 Ukraine to launch its first communication satellite

In the forth quarter of 2013 it is planned to launch the first Ukrainian communication satellite “Lybid”, head of the state space agency Yuri Alekseyev declared, ForUm correspondent reports.

According to the official, the satellite is being mounted in Russian city of Krasnoyarsk. The project is financed with Canadian credit means under governmental guarantees of Ukraine.

“The very communication system is produced by a Canadian company, and the satellite’s platform is made in Russia. The satellite will be sent to the orbit by Ukrainian missile “Zenit,” he informed.

Alekseyev specified that the satellite will be sent to geostationary orbit over equator, at 48th degree of East longitude and 36 km high. “Such orbit position will let to cover all territory of Ukraine, North Africa and Central Asia,” he said.

According to the official, the pay-off period of the satellite is 7-8 years. “After the launch of the satellite, its commercial usage will be controlled by state structure “Ukrkosmos”, authorized to conclude contracts with interested parties,” Alekseyev said.

The official added that India had already expressed its interest in commercial use of the satellite to cover communication of its North regions. According to Alekseyev, the satellite also provides for digital TV broadcast service and Internet service.

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President stands for Ukraine’s integration into European energy space

Ensuring energy security is a key factor in building a new energy architecture of Ukraine, President Viktor Yanukovych said in his speech at “New Energy Architecture: Enabling an effective transition” session of the World Economic Forum.

According to him, Ukraine’s integration into the European energy space would contribute to strengthening energy security in the region.

Viktor Yanukovych also stressed that our country will remain a reliable partner in the transit of hydrocarbons.

The President said Ukraine is interested in developing a constructive and mutually beneficial cooperation with all partners to form new energy transportation corridors.

He drew particular attention to the considerable untapped potential of Ukraine in the area of alternative energy use.

Viktor Yanukovych expressed confidence that joint efforts will allow efficient transformation of the existing energy architecture in Europe into a new and effective model.

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Official: Association agreement with EU may be signed after elections

The Association agreement between Ukraine and European Union may be signed after the parliamentary elections in Ukraine, former Foreign Minister, prominent politician and businessman Petro Poroshenko told ForUm in an interview.

“The nearest favourable moment is after the parliamentary elections, when the political situation will be clear and political risks for foreign partners will be reduced,” he said.

In addition, Poroshenko believes it is mistaken to think that under regime of association Ukraine will not be able to become a full-fledged member of the EU. “Association agreement is an important step, which brings the country closer to the membership. It is also wrong to believe that rapprochement between Ukraine and the EU would worsen the relations with neighbouring countries, namely Russia, and would open our markets to cheap imported goods and destroy domestic producer,” Poroshenko underlined.

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President: Ukraine’s approach to gas cooperation will be pragmatic and balanced

Ukraine’s approach to gas cooperation will be pragmatic and balanced President Viktor Yanukovych said in Davos, answering Ukrainian journalists’ questions. According to him, it applies both to the diversification of gas supply sources and to the idea of gas consortium, ForUm learned from the presidential press office.

Viktor Yanukovych stressed that cooperation within a consortium is possible only on equal terms. If we talk about establishing a consortium, he said, rather than being the grounds for conflicts, it should combine the resources of consortium members to provide steady supplies of certain volumes of gas to Europe. The President added that ensuring the technical reliability of the Ukrainian gas transportation system is important, along with its modernization, which requires about $5-7 billion.

Certainly, said the President, if Ukraine is to sign any agreement in this area, it will be on favorable conditions. “There is no need to prove something to someone – we should approach this issue pragmatically, transparently, and make a decision,” he said.

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