Agro Perspectiva

Values are not for sale: Ukraine and Europe must jointly protect them - President

21.01.2015 10:29 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) — In his article published in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko stresses that values are not for sale, so Ukraine and Europe must jointly protect them, President Petro Poroshenko Press Office reports. As to the report, the Head of State emphasizes that Russia’s hybrid war against Ukraine has affected the Ukrainian nation, Europe and the world order. «It is still difficult for Ukrainians to understand that there can be war prisoners in the center of Europe given the fact that we learned so many lessons from the XX century, which was one of the bloodiest epochs in the history of mankind. The key lesson is that values must be more important than economic interests,» Poroshenko underlines. Besides, the Ukrainian President also notes that Ukrainians paid an extremely high price defending their Homeland from the aggressor. «Only when you meet face-to-face those who are at the frontline of the battle for democracy and human dignity, you will truly understand the firmness of the Ukrainian nation in the protection of peace,» Poroshenko adds. The Head of State emphasizes that the recognition and fulfillment of the Minsk agreements by all the parties must be the first step on the way to the settlement of the situation. «Absence of responsibility in the context of compliance with commitments inevitably undermines the peace process, prolongs bloodshed, spreads terrorism and instability in the center of Europe,» he says. The President called on Europeans to increase their support of Ukraine. He expressed gratitude to Germany and Chancellor Angela Merkel for the efforts on the establishment of peace in Ukraine. «Europe must unite over two simple ideas. First of all, values are not for sale and we must do everything necessary to protect them. Second, it is only jointly that democratic nations can defend freedom of present and future generations of humanity for the life without fear and threat of terrorism. We are united over this issue, we are Europe and we are invincible together,» Poroshenko admits. Also, the President tells that the Ukrainian nation remains faithful to its commitments in the issues of the freedom of speech, civil society and respect for national minorities. Ukrainians have a common desire to reform the country and fight against corruption. «Struggle against corruption is the precondition of successful holding of reforms related to the business-climate, the rule of law and the transparency in the public sector. It is crucial for building a new Ukraine,» the President said.