Razumkov discuss Donbas and Crimea during visit to Switzerland

“I am very pleased that our delegation is the first foreign deputation to the Federal Assembly of the new convocation. I wish you success in your further work and assure that Ukraine and the Verkhovna Rada are ready to cooperate with Switzerland far and wide for the development of bilateral relations,” Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Razumkov told President of the National Council of the Swiss Federal Assembly Isabelle Moret and Second Vice President Irene Kalin, the press service of the Verkhovna Rada reports.

Dmytro Razumkov informed that a group on inter-parliamentary relations with Switzerland had already been formed in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. “It is important that active cooperation has now begun at the level of embassies and at the level of parliamentary friendship groups. We have many promising areas for working together, in particular in the area of reform implementation,” Razumkov said.

The Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada also expressed his gratitude to Switzerland for the effective economic cooperation that currently exists between the states.

“You are the driving force of attracting investments into Ukraine. We are glad that Switzerland is among five largest country investors, and we hope that friendly parliamentary ties will strengthen economic relations and, as a result, increase the volume of investments,” he emphasized.

The parties also discussed enforcement of human rights in the occupied territories, available tools to resolve the armed conflict in Donbas and return the annexed Crimea, Switzerland's support for Ukraine at international platforms, and the possibility of sharing the Swiss experience of direct democracy.

In addition, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada thanked Mrs Moret and Mrs Kalin for their willingness to continue and expand inter-parliamentary relations and invited a deputation of Swiss parliamentarians to visit Ukraine.

The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada also attended sittings of the National Council and the Council of States of the Federal Assembly of the Swiss Confederation.

Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Razumkov will make an official visit to Switzerland on March 9-10.

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