You're reading: Lytvyn: No need to stipulate non-aligned status of Ukraine legislatively

Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Lytvyn has said he doesn't support the non-aligned status of Ukraine as stipulated in a draft bill on the fundamental principles of the country's domestic and foreign policy, which is being prepared for the second reading.

The Ukrainian speaker said this at a meeting with Chairman of the Bundestag Committee on the Affairs of the European Union Gunther Krichbaum and members of the committee in Germany, where he was on an official visit, the parliament’s press service reported on Thursday.

During the meeting, issues of economic reforms in the Ukrainian foreign policy, in particular, Ukraine’s aspirations for European integration and relations with the Russian Federation, were discussed.

Lytvyn said the draft bill on the fundamental principles of domestic and foreign policy is being prepared for second reading. The speaker said this document stipulates a non-aligned status of Ukraine and clearly defines the course of Ukraine towards the European community.

"Moreover, this is an issue that unites the society and does not cause differences among Ukrainian politicians," he said.

When asked by Krichbaum about possible ways to smooth out the contradictions between the east and west of Ukraine, Lytvyn said: "This problem is being actively exacerbated by Ukrainian politicians who want to attract more voters. According to the speaker, among the problems concerning the Ukrainian people, the mentioned issues are irrelevant.

"The people are first and foremost concerned with employment, wages, pensions, health care, tackling corruption, and the work of courts and government. The country will be united only when the government and politicians start working," he said.

Discussing the issue of relations between Ukraine and Russia, German MPs agreed with Lytvyn that Ukraine and Europe would not be stable unless predictable and constructive relations with Russia were established.

Krichbaum, in turn, said Germany wants to "remove ‘unequal’ sites on the EU border." He also informed about intentions to visit Ukraine this November.

"We keep our fingers crossed for you difficult work as the chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. We will support your country in the implementation of economic and political reforms, and during the preparations for Euro 2012", he told Lytvyn.

As reported, on 16-17 June, Volodymyr Lytvyn was on the official visit to the Federal Republic of Germany.