September 14, 2011 Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine K. Gryshchenko deposited at the Headquarters of the Council of Europe the Second Additional Protocol to the European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters. Handing over the instrument of ratification to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Mr. Jagland the Ukrainian Foreign Minister stated that Ukraine as a party to the Protocol will contribute to strengthening legal international cooperation in criminal matters.

"Given that the aim of the Council of Europe is to achieve greater unity between its member states, we believe that the use of common international standards in the field of mutual assistance in criminal matters will contribute to achieving this goal. We also believe that this document will strengthen our legal foundation for international legal cooperation and help to fight against crime, particularly in combating transnational crime and promote the cooperation between our competent authorities with their European partners in this area "- stated K . Gryshchenko.

Currently 24 countries are parties to the Second Additional Protocol to the European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters among them, Israel and Chile, which are not Member States of the Council of Europe. The protocol will enter into force in respect of Ukraine in January 1, 2012.