Joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Mr. Jens Stoltenberg and the President of Ukraine Mr. Volodymyr Zelenskyy following the meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission in Kyiv, October 31, 2019.
Transcript
(crowd talking)
[Translator] Let’s start our press conference. Speech of the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky.
[Woman] The statement by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky.
Thank you very much. Can I begin?
[Woman] Yes, please.
Okay, Thank you very much.
[Translator] Secretary General, Dear ladies and gentlemen, dear journalists. I am happy to welcome in Kiev the North Atlantic Council of NATO. Our meeting proves that Ukraine remains a an important partner of the alliance and cooperation with NATO is getting stronger. Ukraine actually is based on the southern, eastern flank of land, and so it is an integral part of the Euro-Atlantic security area. Ukraine is not only consumer there, but a multi-layer provider of security. I was happy to listen, to understand that NATO recognizes the professionalism of the Ukrainian military, and appreciate our contribution to our cooperation. Without being a member of NATO, our country is involved into every single mission of the alliance, and the successful missions operations of the Ukraine ally have been towards for the leading NATO nations. We are thankful to you for the unwavering support to our independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally-recognized borders, including the Crimean Peninsula. Today we have some theories out of our cooperation assessed what we have achieved, and share the information about how to increase, improve our cooperation. This (president talks over translator) of NATO to Ukraine is in history of success. We improve our interoperability with NATO and enhance our capabilities to protect our own country. Today we have agreed about a updated, consolidated package of projects and practical measures. We have discussed the future of our cooperation as part of the Expanded Opportunities Program, and today Ukraine is prepared to go to this brand new level of partnership with the alliance. We will also continue to strengthen the security and stability in the Black Sea region. We will enhance our cooperation and information sharing improve to the communication line and intensify joint exercise. We welcome the support of the NATO and individual members to enhance capabilities of the Navy, in particular for our fleet. This is our priority and the practical contribution to the security of the Black Sea region. Yesterday (president talks over translator) the delegation of NATO council visited this Navy academy in the Institute for Navy. Thank you for (president talks over translator) internships, for Cadets at your ships. Thank you very much indeed for that. We believe in further support of Navy of Ukraine on the part of NATO. In the upfront discussion we talked about challenging issues and the priorities of my presidential term. For purpose of the (president talks over translator) and the developments of society. As to the National minorities rights, We say that Ukraine is implementing all the recommendations of the Venice Commission to the law on education. Six out of seven recommendations have been already implemented by the Ukrainian side. Today we are focused on the structural reforms and (president talks over translator), and modernizing the security of defense sector. We are thankful to you for the practical support. This is a comprehensive reform of the Ukrainian control system. The logistics of some (president talks over translator) of the medical support for the armed forces of Ukraine. We want to expand the programs for training of certain personnel in the defense sector. To improve our professional training of our personnel and enhance our capabilities of de-mining. Our priorities include active cooperation with the alliance as to the the resilience of Ukraine to fight hybrid threats and cyber defense. We intensify our work as part of the NATO-Ukraine Platform on cyber threats counteraction, and the major measure will be the joint exercises in the Black Sea. Dear friends, We are prepared to cooperate an alliance closer, and to speed up our preparation to NATO membership. We don’t rule out the opportunity to join the (mumbles) and that’s why we are prepared to take a practical route to confirm that Ukraine deserves this kind of format with allies. We hope that our progress and new (mumbles) of the principles or standards of NATO (president talks over translator) to our cooperation. The alliance will be recognized in the future political decisions of our allies. Thank you. Now let’s move to the statement of the Jens Stoltenberg.
[Woman] Now the statement by the NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg.