On 29 March 2012 Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Kostyantyn Gryshchenko met with the PACE Monitoring Committee co-rapporteurs


M. de Pourbaix-Lundin and M. Reps, who were on a monitoring visit in Ukraine in accordance with their mandate to obtain information for the preparation of the report on Ukaine’s honouring of its obligations and commitments to the Council of Europe.

During the meeting the two sides exchanged views on the reforms undertaken in Ukraine, particularly in the context of implementation of the recent PACE resolution “On the Functioning of Democratic Institutions in Ukraine”, adopted at the Assembly’s January 2012 Session.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs stressed that Ukraine’s course towards fulfilling its statutory obligations and commitments to the Council of Europe in the fastest way possible remained unchanged.

K.Gryshchenko specifically noted the importance of expert advice and assistance of the Council of Europe, provided by the Venice Commission as well as in the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine, which is an effective tool of the Organization to assist our country in meeting its statutory commitments and obligations to the Council Europe.

In this regard, the Minister emphasized the importance of fulfillment by the Council of Europe’s of its commitments under the CoE Action Plan for Ukraine, particularly in the areas, which are in the center of attention of the PACE – reform of judicial and penitentiary systems, fight against corruption, protection of human rights. The Minister underlined that reforms in these areas, which are already being implemented by the Ukrainian authorities, should be based on common standards, that are applicable to all European countries. In this context, the parties discussed the prospects for development by the Council of Europe of international standards delimitating political and criminal responsibility.

K.Gryshchenko also informed the co-rapporteurs that an early invitation had been issued to the relevant international institutions to observe the parliamentary elections in Ukraine. This fact testifies to the openness of the Ukrainian authorities and their willingness to ensure fair, transparent and democratic elections in accordance with international standards. Acknowledging the important role of the Council of Europe in promoting international standards for democratic elections, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine expressed hope that representatives of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly would participate in the observation of the elections to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine this autumn.

The PACE Monitoring co-rapporteurs thanked the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine for assistance in organizing the visit.