Alexander Babakov: Ukraine Not to Make EU or Russia Choice

The contemporary world is setting new standards for alliances between states. The world is making a transition from the confrontation-oriented coalitions toward the alliances based on partnership and compromise.

In the course of the 7th YES Yalta Forum, Deputy Speaker, State Duma of the Russian Federation, Alexander Babakov, stated:

“Humanity is facing problems the solutions to which may be found only by joint efforts”, - he emphasised.

The same approach is applicable to European Union as well, as stated by Deputy Speaker of the Russian legislative authority. “I share the opinion according to which Europe's future directly depends on the extent of awareness as regards necessity of open communication and cooperation with Russia and other countries and readiness of removing barriers for interpenetration of stocks, goods, and human resources”.

Russia, as Alexander Babakov brought it into focus, is ready for the dialogue of that kind. “Today Russia is living in the time of reforms concerning all the areas of life. The political reforms, legal reforms, modernization of the country and law enforcement reforms, - all these are not only a response to challenges of the age, but they also show Russia’s readiness to engage in a constructive dialogue between the countries”.

And this is exactly why the viewpoint assuming that development of Ukraine’s relationship with Russia is a barrier for its European integration has become desperately out of fashion. “For Ukraine the choice like “either Russia or EU” is an artificial one. Looking to the future – there is nothing to be countered with”, - he emphasised. “Russia and Ukraine may create a new global center which may be a source for solutions to many issues both on the European continent and all over the world”.

According to Alexander Babakov’s opinion, both Russia and Ukraine have a variety of directions for mutual economical cooperation. One of the most interesting areas being of global importance is cooperation in the agricultural sector because Russia and Ukraine possess almost the largest land and climatic resources in the world favourable for producing organic agricultural produce.

Media Partners:
Euronews 
“Korrespondent”

Special partners of the 7th Yalta Annual Meeting:
DCH
Kyivstar
International Renaissance Foundation

Partner of the 7th Yalta Annual Meeting:
Nemiroff