21/06/2011 Session
In his third address to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych recalled how important it was for the unity of Ukrainian society to pursue the country’s European integration while strengthening its relations with neighbouring countries, especially Russia.
Given Ukraine’s current tenure of the Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers, the President said that he bore a very special responsibility for furthering the institutional and political reform of the Council of Europe and increasing the effectiveness of the European Court of Human Rights. The Council of Europe, he said, led the way in ensuring the continent’s democratic stability as well as in supporting non-member countries in that regard, thanks in particular to the expertise of the Venice Commission.
In his statement, Mr Yanukovych also reviewed the series of complex reforms in progress in Ukraine for the past year. The constitutional and judicial reforms, the fight against corruption, the establishment of a system of public information and the consolidation of civil society featured among the priorities of his policy.