OREANDA-NEWS. September 11, 2015. Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk met with Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Robert Fico in the framework of his visit to Bratislava.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk thanked Robert Fico for his personal position, position of the Government of the Slovak Republic and Slovakia as to supporting the territorial integrity and independence of the Ukrainian state, "You are backing not only in words and declarations but in concrete deeds."

He recalled that gas reverse flow to Ukraine from Slovakia was launched last year, "Then there was little hope that this was possible. But if we had not accepted this decision together, Ukraine would not have endured the winter. Thanks to reverse supply from Slovakia, we managed to get 11 billion cubic meters of gas. It was a real step how to help Ukraine."

The Prime Minister of Ukraine stressed that today in the framework of energy cooperation between the two countries it was signed a Memorandum on cooperation in the areas of energy efficiency, energy-saving and renewable energy: "Your Government is doing very much in order to make your citizens spend as little energy as possible and therefore they pay less for this energy. Our Government has the same goal - to insulate buildings, reduce energy consumption and thus to reduce citizens’ bills."

Apart from that, in the framework of the visit it was signed a Memorandum on cooperation between the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine and the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic concerning youth exchanges.

The meeting with Robert Fico also discussed liberalization of visa regime between Ukraine and the EU: "Visa-free regime for Ukrainians is another real result of European integration that we have to achieve."

Arseniy Yatsenyuk reminded that technical missions are working on this issue in Ukraine: "I hope that a decision on granting Ukraine a visa-free regime won’t have any political aspect, including those associated with migrant influx in the European Union. Like no other, we realize the problems with migrants, which Europe is facing. As presently, the wave of migration to Europe is estimated at hundreds of thousands people. This is due to the conflict zones, the war, global instability. And through the war in Ukraine we have 1.5 million internally displaced persons. And it demands incredible spending from budget for adaptation, assistance for these people. So, solutions to these problems must be sought together".

The Prime Minister of Ukraine expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister of Slovakia for the support in implementing reforms in Ukraine, in particular in reforming the tax system: "I very much appreciate your support and support of your country as a member of the European Union for our difficult path towards obtaining membership in the European Union and towards real European integration."

In communication with media people, Arseniy Yatsenyuk noted he had discussed with Robert Fico the establishment in the European Union of "a new powerful tool to support reforms in Ukraine": "It is the association of all those countries that have undertaken reforms, that have entered the EU over the past two decades. In creating such a platform of support for Ukraine there should participate Slovakia, Poland".

"Everyone, following an example of Slovakia, will be able to engage in assistance to Ukraine. Because it is crucial for us: a very practical and pragmatic approach, the specific action that entails a particular result," stressed Arseniy Yatsenyuk.