Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva visited Slovenia and held working consultations with State Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia for Coordination of International and EU Affairs Igor Senčar.
The parties noted the high dynamics of the political dialogue between Ukraine and Slovenia. In this regard, the importance of organizing official visits of the Prime Minister and the President of Ukraine to the Republic of Slovenia in 2022 was noted.
Ihor Zhovkva and Igor Senčar discussed the results of the 23rd Ukraine-EU Summit, which took place in October this year in Kyiv. The Deputy Head of the Office of the President praised the results of Slovenia's presidency of the Council of the European Union and taking into account Ukraine's interests, including the extension of the EU sanctions regime against the Russian Federation until 2022. He also commended the signing of the Common Aviation Area Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union in the framework of the Summit.
The parties focused on the implementation by our country of a strategic course towards full membership in the European Union. In this regard, the interlocutors discussed the draft Declaration on the European Perspective of Ukraine, which is to be signed in the near future.
Ihor Zhovkva informed Igor Senčar in detail about the security situation in Donbas in the context of Russia's systemic violations of the ceasefire and reinforcing its military contingent along the Ukrainian-Russian border.
The Deputy Head of the Office of the President also informed about the current situation on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border and the coordination of relevant efforts with EU member states.
In addition, the parties discussed some issues of energy security in the region and the use of the energy factor by the Russian Federation to put pressure on European countries.
The parties exchanged views on preparations for the 9th meeting of the Joint Ukrainian-Slovenian Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation in 2022. The interlocutors positively noted the growth rate of bilateral trade in goods and services, which increased by 29% in the first three quarters of this year, despite the situation with the pandemic.
The parties also touched upon the epidemic situation in Ukraine and Slovenia, as well as the steps taken by the governments of the two countries in the context of counteracting the spread of COVID-19 and ensuring the vaccination of citizens with a quality certified vaccine.
During the negotiations with Adviser to the President of the Republic of Slovenia on Foreign Affairs Smiljana Knez, Ihor Zhovkva expressed gratitude for the personal participation of Slovenian President Borut Pahor in the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform in August 2021. He also commended Slovenia's prompt appointment of a contact person for systematic cooperation with the Crimea Platform office located in Kyiv.
Ihor Zhovkva also informed the interlocutor in detail about the security situation in Ukraine and around it.
During the meeting of the Deputy Head of the Office of the President with State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia Stanislav Raščan, promising measures of bilateral political dialogue and Slovenia's support of our country's strategic course towards EU and NATO membership were discussed. Bilateral cooperation within the UN and other international organizations was also discussed.
The interlocutors paid special attention to the challenges in the field of cybersecurity, as well as issues of regional energy security.
In Ljubljana, Ihor Zhovkva had a meeting with President of the National Council of the Republic of Slovenia Alojz Kovšca. During the meeting, the positive nature of the bilateral inter-parliamentary dialogue was noted and possible ways to intensify it were discussed, in particular through friendship groups in the parliaments of Ukraine and Slovenia.
"I suggest focusing on the implementation of possible joint cultural and humanitarian projects," said the Deputy Head of the Office of the President.
He expressed hope that the National Council of Slovenia would consider the issue of honoring the memory of the victims of the Holodomor of 1932-1933 in Ukraine.