Ukraine actively preparing for NATO PA session in Kyiv

Ukraine is actively preparing for the NATO Parliamentary Assembly spring session in Kyiv in 2020, First Vice Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Iryna Gerashchenko said at a meeting with President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Rasa Jukneviciene.

"It is symbolic that newly elected President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Rasa Jukneviciene made her first visit to Ukraine. Today, the Ukrainian delegation to the Assembly met with Ms Jukneviciene. Ukraine gained the right to hold the NATO PA spring session in Kyiv in 2020, including thanks to the active standing of our delegation. We already work together to get ready for this important event," Gerashchenko posted on Facebook.

According to her, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine makes efforts to adapt the national legislation to the Alliance’s standards. Ukrainian lawmakers adopted a key law "On National Security of Ukraine", which stipulates that the defense minister shall be a civilian.

Gerashchenko also assured Jukneviciene that the parliament of Ukraine paid much attention to gender equality in the security agencies. The parties discussed a wide range of issues and counteraction to common hybrid challenges, Russian aggression, interference in elections and Kremlin's attempts to discredit the international institutions.

The Ukrainian side told about the security and humanitarian situation in occupied Donbas and Crimea, urging to exert simultaneous pressure on the Russian Federation to release the hostages and political prisoners.

Rasa Jukneviciene expressed a deep understanding of the current situation in Ukraine and noted that Ukraine's issue remained a priority on the NATO PA agenda.

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