англ №40

№40, July 2017
According to the President, Ukrainian border crossing points will have
unified control with Slovak, Polish, Romanian and Hungarian partners
President Petro Poroshenko together with the
President of the Slovak Republic Andrej Kiska took part
in the symbolic opening ceremony of the doors to Europe
on the Slovak and Ukrainian border to celebrate the
introduction of the visa-free regime between Ukraine and
the countries of the Schengen area.
«To be honest, we have been waiting for this for a
long time. And this is a historical moment when we destroy
the paper curtain that separated Ukraine from Europe,»
Petro Poroshenko said during the ceremony.
The Head of State stressed: «This means that Ukraine
has conducted enormous reforms. Together we have
changed our country. Our European partners have kept
their word and have opened the doors to the European
Union, the doors of our friends and partners. All of them
are open for our great 45 million nation, for the Ukrainian
people.»
Petro Poroshenko is convinced that this day will
forever be remembered in the history of Ukraine as the
final exit of our state from the Russian Empire and the
return of Ukraine to the family of European nations.
He recalled that it was precisely for the sake of these
values, European values, that three and a half years ago,
Ukrainians started the Revolution of Dignity, demanding
reforms and European integration.
«And today the will of the people is implemented,
and we have achieved the first and extremely important
results. Right now our freedom and democracy are being
defended by the best Ukrainians - the soldiers of the
Armed Forces and other armed groups in the East of our
state,» the President mentioned.
According to him, today this right can be used by
every Ukrainian with a biometric passport, and there are
more than 4 million Ukrainians with that type of document.
«To date, these passports do not require any visas, no
paperwork, no fees, no queues,» the President added.
Petro Poroshenko stressed that the value of the
Ukrainian passport has increased significantly since that
day. «Today, every Ukrainian can have an opportunity to
have a fantastic coffee in Bratislava, fly on a lowcoster to
Warsaw, or visit the Viennese opera,» he said.
The President also stressed that the Ukrainian
authorities are doing everything possible to make such
trips to Europe more accessible. «We have launched new
trains to neighboring European countries, our customs
and border services are arranging checkpoints. We will
conduct joint control with our Slovak, Polish, Romanian
and Hungarian partners as a symbol of friendship and trust
between our countries,» Petro Poroshenko said.
«I want to say that the more progress we are making
on the path of reform, the more facts I and the Ukrainian
people can provide in order to win the possibility of
membership of Ukraine in the European Union,» the
President said. He also noted that, according to Article 49
of Rome Statute, Ukraine is a European state.
The Head of the Ukrainian State thanked the President
of Slovakia for his strong support for Ukraine’s territorial
integrity, sovereignty, independence and Ukrainian
reforms. «This is the position of a real friend and partner,»
he said.
Petro Poroshenko stressed: «We are confident that
together with such reliable friends and lawyers of Ukraine
in the European Union, we will be able to continue our
path of reforms, to continue the fundamental European
changes of our state and our return to Europe. I have
every reason to be confident in that.»
The President of the Slovak Republic, Andrej Kiska,
congratulated Ukraine on introducing the visa-free
regime and stressed that this day was important not
only for Ukrainians, but also for the Slovak people: «Dear
neighbors, we welcome you in Europe». «A lot of efforts,
a lot of hard work made this day come true. Ukraine has
fulfilled its promises, as well as the European Union has,»
he said.
Andrej Kiska called on Ukraine to continue reforms.
«Slovakia and its politicians will support your state so that
it will come to the European Union, to which you belong,»
the President of Slovakia promised.
12