European choice is very important for Ukraine. This was announced by acting President of Ukraine, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov at the opening of the 21^st meeting of the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Cooperation Committee on Thursday.

“A new, very important stage is being initiated in Ukraine-EU cooperation”, he said, adding that after signing the political part of the Association Agreement last week, the Parliamentary Committee on Association will become the main instrument for parliamentary dialogue between Ukraine and the EU.     

The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada stressed that European choice is very important for Ukrainian people and “attempts to stop aspirations of Ukrainians, aspirations to live in a common European home have become an impulse for the Euromaidan.”  

Oleksandr Turchynov reminded that right after forming the new Government, one of the first decisions was to restore European integration process. He added that the Verkhovna Rada adopted the resolution with majority of votes that “is actually a guide for Ukraine and for all executive structures to the European integration, it is insurance of our European way.”  

Oleksandr Turchynov called signing of the political part of the Association Agreement a beginning of a new level of EU-Ukraine cooperation. “Our task is membership in the EU. We thank our European colleagues, who actively supported this Ukraine’s aspiration, for being with us in difficult times and for supporting us”, he said.  

The Chairman of the Parliament claimed that “aggression of the Russian Federation in the Crimea got in the way to stabilization in Ukraine, to building democratic and powerful Ukraine.” “This is not just a coincidence in time when Ukraine was preparing to signing the Agreement”, he claimed. Moreover, Oleksandr Turchynov said that “regardless of an attempt to annex our territory, Ukrainian way towards Europe can not be stopped.”     

“We thank the EU for their clear stance. Ukraine will never acknowledge Russia’s attempt to capture the Crimea. It is a part of our country, the Crimea was, is and will be a Ukrainian land,” claimed Oleksandr Turchynov. “Support of all civilized countries and our strategic partners from the EU give us hope that the aggression will fail.”  

He also wished European colleagues success at elections to the European Parliament.  

“Ukraine and Europe are not just partners, they are a single family, and we are sure that Ukraine will be a part of a big glorious European family”, summed up Oleksandr Turchynov.