Consultations with Ukraine kick-off ministerial meetings
The NATO-Ukraine Commission (NUC) meeting at the level of Foreign Ministers has opened a series of ministerial sessions at NATO HQ in Brussels on 3 December 2009.
In his welcoming remarks, the Secretary General of NATO, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, said: “We have all been very busy since the Bucharest summit, which took the historic decision that Ukraine will become a member of NATO. We have been busy deepening our political dialogue, and strengthening our cooperation, including on Ukraine’s reforms.”
The evaluation of these reforms, and more specifically the implementation of the first Annual National Programme (ANP), was the focus of discussion among Allied Ministers and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Petro Poroshenko. Progress was noted, but Allies also offered specific advice on areas where improvements could be made. The Ukrainian Minister informed his colleagues that a draft ANP for 2010 was adopted by the Ukrainian Government on 2 December.
Allied Ministers thanked Ukraine for its very significant contribution to all NATO-led operations and missions. Minister Poroshenko confirmed plans to increase these contributions even further.
Ministers also exchanged views on Euro-Atlantic and regional security issues.