Prince Volodymyr the Great statue was unveiled in Holland Park Avenue in London in 1988 to commemorate 1000 years of Christianity in Ukraine
The solemn celebrations were held simultaneously in Kyiv and in London near the monuments to Volodymyr the Great in both cities. For details see page 4 and page 5
also in this issue:
Fule praises Ukraine for progress in European integration Page 2
Ukraine to be ready for signing Association in September Page 2
Ukraine becomes more open for foreign investors Page 3
Ukraine Digest, Thursday, August 1, 2013
Page 2
european integration
Ukraine to be ready for signing Association in September
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kraine will decide in September problematic issues required to sign the Association Agreement with the European Union, foreign minister of Ukraine Leonid Kozhara predicts. “Ukraine together with the European Commission worked out the Action Plan, which is being implemented now. This action plan is actually implemented by 95%, there are only a few problematic issues that we, I think, will close in September,” the minister said in his interview to Ukrainian media. He told that it is about a number of
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Ukraine together with the European Commission worked out the Action Plan, which is actually implemented by 95%. There are only a few problematic issues that we, I think, will close in September”
Leonid Kozhara
bills relating to the prosecutor’s office, elections, as well as the implementation
of anti-corruption legislation. Foreign minister noted that the anti-discrimination bill has not been passed by Parliament. “It is difficult to predict how the Verkhovna Rada will respond to anti-discrimination law. So far the government has failed to provide a positive consideration of the bill in the Parliament,” the minister said, adding that the bill does not directly concern the signing of the Association Agreement, however, it is directly related to the dialogue on visa liberalization with the EU.
Ukraine shows positive trend in Association signing
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Of course, Ukraine will be able to sign the Association Agreement in November, it depends on the state”
Stefan Füle
kraine shows a “positive trend” in the issue of signing the Association Agreement with the European Union in November, and Ukraine will be able to sign this document if fulfills conditions previously put forward. This was stated by European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Stefan
Füle in interview with Gazeta Wyborcza Polish newspaper. “Of course, Ukraine will be able to sign the Association Agreement in November, it depends on the state. Position on this matter has been clearly expressed by the Council of the European Union: the country should stop selective justice, should reform the electoral law and to show progress in the implementation of the European standards,” he said. “I see a positive trend: the government understands how important agreement is for the country and for us,” Füle said. The European Commissioner also
expressed confidence that the Ukrainian government clearly wants to integrate with the European Union, and does not choose between the West and the Customs Union established by the Russian Federation. Füle added that the EU does not prepare “plan B” with respect to the Association Agreement with Ukraine, noting that even if, for some reason, this document will not be signed - it’s not going to push Ukraine closer to Russia. “If it does not happen, it will not diminish the role of Ukraine in the region, on the contrary - it will strengthen and create great opportunities for cooperation with all neighbors, including Russia,” he said. www.ukremb.org.uk
economy
UKRAINE BECOMES OPEN FOR FOREIGN INVESTORS
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ialogue with foreign investors will make Ukrainian market more open, economic development and trade minister of Ukraine Ihor Prasolov said during constituent meeting of the Ukraine-EU Dialogue on business climate on July 25. The participants of the meeting discussed issues related to improving the investment climate in Ukraine and development of entrepreneurial activity,
Ukrainian market more open to foreign investors, promote business development and economic growth,” Prasolov said. He noted that the meeting will promote bilateral trade and effective solution of problems in the area of trade and investment. Timely exchange of information between public authorities and the close cooperation with the business are very important factors in achieving this goal.
Ihor Prasolov, Minister of Economy: “I am convinced that the dialogue with our partners is a real opportunity to bring trade and economic relations between Ukraine and the EU on a higher level”
in particular, taxation, customs sphere, standards harmonization. Special attention was paid to current issues faced by Ukrainian and European companies in the course of bilateral trade and economic cooperation. “We want to point out that progress in solving problems. We have a continuing dialogue, including with representatives of the European Business Association, the American Chamber of Commerce. I am convinced that our dialogue is a real opportunity to bring trade and economic relations between Ukraine and the EU on a higher level through discussions, assessments and proposals, to make
The head of the European delegation, deputy Director General of the General Directorate of the European Commission’s “Trade” Peter Balazs said that they are ready for a constructive discussion of the issues, because it will not only give positive results of this meeting, but in general will be an impetus for further deepening the partnership between Ukraine and the EU. They expressed confidence that the beginning of informal dialogue should be a powerful signal for the business communities in Ukraine and the EU on new opportunities for the growth of business activity.
Ukraine’s Banking System Approaches EU Standards
THE SYSTEM of establishing bank reserves – Basel II, which has been introduced in Ukraine earlier in 2013, has led the country’s banking system closer to European standards, said the president of the Ukrainian analytical center Financial Technologies Oleksandr Okhrimenko. The introduction of the new system has resulted in the increase of bank reserves of Ukrainian banks. “As of now, the Ukrainian banking system actually employs the same methods of money protection as those used in the developed countries. Russia and other CIS countries are only considering to move to Basel II, as their banking systems cannot afford it because of their vulnerability to risk and the inability to reduce the risk of bad loans,” said the expert. www.ukremb.org.uk
society
T “ his weekend Kyiv was the epicenter of the celebration of the 1025th anniversary of the Kyiv Rus Christianization. The main celebrations were held in this city, involving the celebrants of the world’s local Orthodox churches, as well as heads of state and delegations from countries, where Orthodox believers dominate. Jointly with Ukrainians, celebrating this event was Pa-
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Christianization was a momentous historical act that led Kyiv Rus to the new civilizational level. Common features in cultures of many European peoples demonstrate European Christian identity and allow saying that Ukrainians are the part of it. Understanding of European civilization is incomplete without Ukrainian icon, Ukrainian church-temple architecture, Ukrainian choirs and Ukrainian monasticism.” Viktor Yanukovych
triarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church, Moldovan
President Nicolae Timofti, President of the Russian Fed-
aint Andrew, the first Apostle of Jesus Christ, is believed to be the one who brought Christianity to Eastern Europe. Legends insist he sailed across the Black Sea and landed in the Greek colony of Chersonesus Taurica in Crimea, modern Ukraine. Then he travelled north along the Dnieper River, passing the place where the City of Kyiv was founded in the 5th century. On his legendary journey Saint Andrew baptized thousands to new faith. Nine centuries later, in 988 AD, Prince Volodymyr the Great, who ruled in Kyiv, then main centre of the Eastern Slavic world, introduced Christianity in his lands.
Over a millennium ago Kyiv was the main centre of the Eastern Slavic world
eration Vladimir Putin and President Tomislav Nikolic of the Republic of Serbia. Guests of the Ukrainian capital and the President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych took part in a solemn prayer on the occasion of the 1025th anniversary of the Kyiv Rus Christianization on the Volodymyrska Hill. The holiday finished with a grand concert performed by Ukrainian and Russian rock groups and the Kuban Cossack Choir.
society
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solemn ceremony celebrating 1025th Anniversary of the Christianization of Kyiv Rus was held in London on July 27. Dressed in national costumes Ukrainians gathered at the Volodymyr the Great monument adjacent to the Ukrainian institute. The Ambassador of Ukraine Volodymyr Khandogiy addressed participants of the event on this occasion. “1025 years ago our ancestors made their first conscious civilizational choice towards European values, when joined the Christian world,” – said Volodymyr Khandogiy in his speech. – “Today Ukraine confirms this choice, aiming at European integration course. Signing
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1025 years ago our ancestors made their first conscious civilizational choice towards European values, when joined the Christian world. Today Ukraine confirms this choice, aiming at European integration course. Signing of the Association agreement at the Vilnius Eastern Partnership Summit will be a logical step in this direction.”
Ukraine’s intensions to remain in the European family. The monument of Volodymyr the Great was erected by the local Ukrainian community to mark the 1000th Anniversary of the Kyiv Rus Christianization. The sculptor of the monument is a Canadian of Ukrainian origin Leo Mol. The monument was opened on May 29, 1988.
Volodymyr Khandogiy
of the Association agreement at the Vilnius Eastern Partnership Summit will be a logical step in this direction.” The Ambassador of Ukraine underscored that our country set its hopes on the successful accomplishment of the Summit, which would confirm
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olodymyr the Great statue was unveiled in London on May 29 1988 to commemorate 1,000 years of Christianity in the Ukraine. The sculptor is Leo Mol. Born Leonid Molodozhanyn in 1915 in Ukraine, Leo Mol has carried out commissions for sculptures and
monuments across the globe. The subjects of his sculptures include such prominent historical personalities as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Winston Churchill, Pope John Paul II, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and John Diefenbaker. He has also sculpted the human form, wildlife, religious subjects, and sculptures with Ukrainian themes. Since 1948 Leo Mol lived and worked in Winnipeg, Canada.
For more information, please, contact Oksana Kyzyma, Press Secretary of the Embassy of Ukraine to the UK
Tel.: 020 7727 6312 E-mail: press@ukremb.org.uk Address: 60 Holland Park, London W11 3SJ
Issue #19, August 1, 2013 In the preparation of this issue materials of UKRINFORM, WNU, forUm were used