We have no right to turn a blind eye to global problems, especially in the energy sector, says Prime Minister at a meeting with President of the Storting of Norway

The whole democratic world, together with Ukraine, has no right to  turn a blind eye to the existing challenges and global problems,  especially those that arise in the energy sector. Prime Minister of  Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman stressed during a meeting with the President  of the Storting (Parliament) of Norway Tone Wilhelmsen Trøen. This is  the first visit of the President of the Storting of Norway to Kyiv and  already the third visit of high-ranking officials of Norway to Ukraine  in the last three weeks.

"We must strengthen ties between our  governments and parliaments. In 2017-18 we see a growing trend in trade.  And the potential of our relations is promising as well", said  Volodymyr Groysman.

"This is the third official visit of officials  from Norway in the last three weeks. And this is a great privilege for  me to visit Ukraine and meet with you. We have brought with us a strong  delegation - they comprise three political parties of our parliament.  And by this, we emphasize our support for the process of reform and  struggle that Ukraine continues against Russian aggression", Tone Wilhelmsen Trøen said.

Volodymyr Groysman thanked Norway for the  continued support of Ukrainian sovereignty and in terms of security  issues. However, the security context, the PM noted, extends not only to  defense initiatives, but also to the economic plane and, what is of  peculiar importance, to the energy sector.

"It is very important  for us to see a stable democratic world in protecting democracy and  rules of international law. And in this context, an overriding issue is  Nord Stream 2 project. We are calling on the whole world - do not  believe in the guarantees of Russia. You will not remember any guarantee  uttered by Russian which is being enforced nowadays. The Budapest  Memorandum on Security Assurances, the latest decisions of Stockholm  arbitration court on gas contracts ... All of those are not fulfilled.  And we are concerned that the project (gas pipeline construction) is  under way. And we urge all countries to open their eyes and look at the  impending threat. We have to pass strong not weak countries to our next  generations. We have no right to turn a blind eyes to such global  problems. And we are talking about an alternative - joint management of  the Ukrainian GTS, which is reliable. Thus, we will all be independent", the Prime Minister claimed.

The Head of Government stressed that  the analysis of the situation and joint actions can prevent the threat  of the Russian monopoly.

"We hear all your remarks", the President  of the Storting (Parliament) of Norway said. "And we support the idea  that the role of Ukraine as a transit state should be preserved".

Volodymyr  Groysman praised the said position and noted that Ukraine is currently  undergoing transformations and implementing several very important  reforms - from education and medicine to decentralization and combating  corruption. "These processes are being simultaneously managed", he  stressed.

In turn, Tone Wilhelmsen Trøen assured that Norway  stands ready to provide comprehensive support to Ukraine both in energy  and reform issues that are currently being implemented in Ukraine and   incredibly important with a view to economic development of the  country.