Ukrainian MP: NATO launches preparation process for Ukraine's accession to the Alliance
The NATO Parliamentary Assembly has adopted a resolution that de jure provides Ukraine with grounds for searching for an algorithm to prepare for joining the North Atlantic Alliance, wrote Ukrainian MP Iryna Friz (Petro Poroshenko Bloc) on her Facebook page. Friz heads the permanent delegation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.
According to Friz, the resolution "Strengthening Stability and Security in the Black Sea region", taking into account an amendment by the Ukrainian delegation, envisages continued discussions with Ukraine and Georgia on strengthening cooperation within the framework of NATO.
Friz stressed that further cooperation between Kyiv and NATO is aimed at strengthening security in the region and implementing the political decisions from the 2008 Bucharest Summit.
"At that point the question of granting Ukraine and Georgia an Action Plan for membership had been postponed, but it was confirmed that in the long term, those countries could become members of the Alliance. The resolution of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly de jure creates a basis for us to start choosing an algorithm for preparing for NATO membership," she said.
The politician stressed that after the adoption of the law on Euro-Atlantic integration, Ukraine returned to an active political process of preparation for joining the Alliance.
"An important condition for this is the receipt of a Membership Action Plan. Of course, we realize that the main thing is to fulfill Ukraine's individual objectives - the qualitative implementation of reforms to achieve compliance with the standards and criteria of the Alliance. Yes, we still have a lot of work to do. But political support from our partners is conducive to such changes, and opens the door to Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine," concluded Friz.
On June 6, the Verkhovna Rada fully adopted bill No. 6470, which introduced amendments to Ukrainian legislation (regarding Ukraine's foreign policy course). The document defines Ukraine's membership in NATO as a strategic foreign policy priority of the state.