Agro Perspectiva

Ukrainian, Bulgarian Presidents discussed security issues and reforms implementation

07.07.2015 16:19 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) — As of today, within the negotiations in Kyiv, Presidents of Ukraine and Bulgaria discussed European and global security in the context of the situation in Donbas, as well as Bulgarian experience on the track of reforms and its lessons for Ukraine, President Petro Poroshenko Press Office reports. «We will use this opportunity to develop our position on such important issues like European and global security, particularly after a very important decision of the EU Council on prolongation of sanction against Russia for the non-fulfilment of the Minsk agreements,» Petro Poroshenko said within the expanded format negotiations. As to Poroshenko, Ukraine is ready for the political process aimed at resolving the situation in Donbas given full implementation of the Minsk agreements. He admitted the only way towards political settlement is to hold fair and transparent elections in compliance with the standards and under the ODIHR monitoring. «We can get new legal representatives of Donbas only via free elections. In a week, we will be able to solve all the issues with these representatives without Russian weaponry and influence,» Poroshenko said. Also, the Ukrainian President emphasized the need for the fulfillment of the Minsk agreements in the context of liberation of hostages detained both in Moscow and the occupied territories. «Russia must demonstrate willingness to fully implement the Minsk agreements,» the President stressed. As to the report, Poroshenko also drew attention to Russian annexation of Crimea, which is a cynical violation of the international law and post-war global order. «It is absolutely inadmissible in the XXI century. Position of Bulgaria, EU, hundreds of countries that supported Ukraine at the UN General Assembly resulted in complete isolation of Russia,» the Head of State said. He expressed gratitude to Bulgaria and its President for such a solidarity. In his turn, the President of Bulgaria emphasized that «crises occur in places where the rule of law is violated». «We believe that every nation, irrespective of its size or wealth, has a right to determine its fate independently. Nobody has a right to intervene, violate and cross borders, invade and annex territories of other countries,» Rosen Plevneliev noted. As to the report, the Bulgarian President assured the Ukrainian President that his country stands for compliance with the international law and the right of Ukraine to defend and preserve its sovereignty and choose its own future. «Bulgarian voice at the UN General Assembly scheduled for autumn will be in favor of Ukraine and peace,» Plevneliev said. Besides, Poroshenko also noted that the Bulgarian President made a visit to Ukraine for the first time in 12 years. «Your visit is an evidence of our friendship, trust, reliability of our relations and demonstration of our personal friendship. We’ve met 10 times since the beginning of my presidency. The intensity of our meetings is very symbolic, because relations between our countries have never been at such a high level before,» Poroshenko said noting personal contribution of President Plevneliev to that issue.