North Atlantic Alliance is heartened by the adoption of the draft law "On National Security of Ukraine" in the first reading and stands ready to assist in its preparation for the second reading and further implementation. This was announced by NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller during a meeting with Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze. The meeting took place in Kyiv as a part of the NATO Deputy Secretary General visit to Ukraine.

Rose Gottemoeller commended Ukraine’s progress in implementing reforms and stressed the mentioned draft law, which establishes democratic control over the law enforcement agencies is a long-awaited issue that NATO expects from Ukraine. She praised that the draft law was adopted with amendments, which were introduced after its consideration by the Parliament in the first reading.

The Vice Prime Minister counts on the adoption of the bill in the second reading by the end of the current session of the Verkhovna Rada.  She emphasized Ukraine is committed to take every opportunity that were developed within the framework of the NATO-Ukraine Commission, in Annual  National Programme (ANP) of NATO - Ukraine cooperation and in the Comprehensive Assistance Package in order to approach the Alliance. "This year, we will ensure that all our national action plans and strategic road maps are in line with the goals enshrined in the ANP, which incorporates the steps that must be taken on the path towards Euro-Atlantic integration", the Vice Prime Minister underscored.

Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze stressed Ukraine has embarked on the work on elaboration of NATO - Ukraine Annual National Programme for 2019. The parties discussed the situation with holding of a meeting of NATO-Ukraine  Commission at the level of Heads of State and Government in the margins of NATO summit in the summer of 2018, which is still blocked by Hungary, and Ukraine's expectation from this summit.