OSCE PA President George Tsereteli with Verkhovna Rada Chairman Dmytro Razumkov.KYIV, 30 August 2019 – Attending the opening session of the Verkhovna Rada this week in Kyiv, OSCE PA President Tsereteli expressed his solidarity with the Ukrainian people as the new parliament committed to ambitious reforms in the face of continuous challenges in the East.

In an exchange with the newly-elected Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Dmytro Razumkov, and the new Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Bohdan Yaremenko, President Tsereteli discussed the vital role of the OSCE in Ukraine and encouraged continued strong engagement by Ukrainian parliamentarians in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

“In light of the ongoing aggression and hostilities in eastern Ukraine, and the continued occupation of Crimea, the recent elections clearly articulated the desire and commitment of the Ukrainian people to achieve fundamental political changes through democratic means,” said Tsereteli. “I look forward to working closely with our new Ukrainian Members to harness their determination and energy, and achieve durable peace in Ukraine and in Europe.”

In conversations, the OSCE PA President recalled that the Luxembourg Declaration, adopted in July, reaffirms the Parliamentary Assembly’s unequivocal support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, political independence, unity and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. Tsereteli outlined the PA’s activities focused on promoting conflict resolution in the Donbas, and thanked the outgoing Delegation of Ukraine, led by Artur Gerasimov, for its commitment to the work of the OSCE PA.

On the margins of the event, President Tsereteli held talks with European Parliament Vice-President Klara Dobrev to further enhance interparliamentary co-operation in the fields of election observation and conflict resolution. He also met with the Chairman of the German-Ukrainian Parliamentary Friendship Group Omid Nouripour and the Deputy Speaker of the Israeli Knesset Yisrael Eichler.

In Kyiv, President Tsereteli held fruitful talks with the Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, Ambassador Yaşar Halit Çevik. Recalling the support provided to OSCE parliamentarians on field visits to eastern Ukraine, President Tsereteli thanked the SMM for their tireless efforts to support people’s humanitarian and human rights needs, reduce tensions, and foster peace and security throughout Ukraine.

OSCE PA President George Tsereteli with Ambassador Henrik Villadsen.In a visit to the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine, Tsereteli discussed with Ambassador Henrik Villadsen ongoing PCU initiatives to reform the judiciary, foster dialogue, protect human rights and safeguard the environment. The OSCE PA President recognized the OSCE field mission’s outstanding contribution to democratic reform in Ukraine over the past twenty years.