You're reading: Kwasniewski: Big Europe with common economic and cultural space impossible without Ukraine

Chairman of the Yalta European Strategy (YES) and former Polish President (1995-2005) Aleksander Kwasniewski has said that Ukraine is currently going through a difficult period of reform and a difficult economic situation, but that the country's EU membership aspirations are still important.

"It’s important for me that Ukraine remains committed to European integration. Ukraine still sees itself as a part of the European family and a part of Europe’s future," he said at the 8th Yalta Annual Meeting, entitled "Ukraine and the World: Common Challenges, Common Future," on Friday.

Kwasniewski quoted former Pope John Paul II as saying that "the world is a building that is constantly being built," and noted that each "brick" in this building was important, but it is even more important "how firmly these bricks are stuck to each other" and "whether our common home will be able to withstand the storms and floods of global crises" depends on this.

"The Yalta European Strategy is one of those organizations that help these ‘bricks’ stick together. We believe that an open and equal dialog on problems common to everybody can unite people, countries and nations, that such a dialog helps us all take a new look at the development of Europe and the world in general," he said.

Speaking about Ukraine’s role in today’s Europe, he noted that "Ukraine is a very important ‘brick’ in the building of the European house."

"A big Europe, which Charles de Gaulle dreamt of, is Europe from the Atlantic to the Urals, with a common economic and cultural space and common values, and this Europe is impossible without Ukraine," Kwasniewski said.

The 8th Yalta Annual Meeting entitled "Ukraine and the World: Common Challenges, Common Future," which was organized by the Yalta European Strategy (YES), in partnership with the Victor Pinchuk Foundation, is taking place at the Livadia Palace in Yalta on Sept. 15-18.