News
02.12.2009
Ukraine should continue cooperation with IMF - Poroshenko
It is necessary to continue cooperation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and increase gas prices for the population, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pyotr Poroshenko said.
"I am convinced that further cooperation with the IMF has a decisive significance for Ukraine. We should carry out economic reforms. We should increase gas prices for the population because gas cannot be a present from the state," Poroshenko said in an interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on Monday.
"European integration is our future. We are a European country. Every European country has the right to give an application for the EU membership," the Ukrainian minister noted.
"Ukraine chose Europe's vector. There are no other vectors," he added.
Poroshenko said he considers NATO the most effective form to ensure security in the country. "There is no majority in favour of the Alliance in many countries, which are now NATO members. Only some time later support for the Alliance grew. First of all, security of my country is more important for me. I do not know any other effective form, which could ensure our security."
"Our security may be strengthening by NATO and by other means," the Ukrainian minister said. But he declined to explain how it should be done. In his words, "Kiev has been cooperating with NATO for years." "We will continue developing cooperation. But it does not solve problems of the future," he complained.
"If NATO is ready to guarantee our security and if there are no other possibilities, we have no choice. But if NATO is unable to ensure security, we should choose all structures, which will help us ensure it in its best way. We do not know what formats may be, but we are ready to hold talks on other variants," the Ukrainian minister pointed out.
"NATO is a checked format, which can help us ensure security. We will discuss any other formats if they give us guarantees," he said.
At the same time, Poroshenko added: "It is my position as a minister and not Ukraine's official stance."
ITAR-TASS
