A meeting of the Political Dialogue/Rule of Law Working Group held in Washington D.C., the U.S., within Ukraine – U.S. Strategic Partnership Commission
26 February 2013 17:08
On February 22, 2013 in Washington D.C. a meeting of the Political Dialogue/Rule of Law Working Group was held within Ukraine – U.S. Strategic Partnership Commission. The Working Group was co-chaired by Ukrainian Presidential Advisor Andriy Portnov and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Thomas O. Melia.
Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Andriy Olefirov and Ukraine’s Ambassador to the U.S. Olexander Motsyk participated in the meeting. The officials of the U.S. Department of State and Department of Justice as well other departments also attended the meeting along with observers from Ukrainian and American NGOs.
A.Portnov and A.Olefirov informed the audience of significant progress achieved by Ukraine in the field of judicial and law enforcement reform including criminal court proceedings, improvement of the electoral process, holding of referenda, freedom of mass media and rights of national and LGBT minorities.
The Ukrainian side presented in details priorities of Ukraine’s OSCE Chairmanship, in particular in the humanitarian dimension of the Organization’s activities.
The U.S. delegation noted progress in carrying out mentioned systemic reforms, welcomed the adoption of the Criminal Procedure Code by Ukraine and underlined the importance of its proper implementation.
At the meeting officials from the Ukrainian delegation raised an issue regarding A.Butler, former Ukrainian national adopted by the American family in 2003, and were reassured in receiving an access to the required information.
Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of State
