Ukraine to continue following course towards eurointegration processes - president Kuchma

President Leonid Kuchma of Ukraine has called upon the creation of real prerequisites for settling the main geopolitical problem -- Ukraine's joining the European Union. The Ukrainian leader believes that ought to become the core of the strategy of Ukraine's economic and social development in the next ten years.

Delivering the annual message to the Verkhovnaya Rada (Parliament), Kuchma also declared that Ukraine ought to continue following the course towards Eurointegration processes, as well as the expansion and deepening of cooperation with its partners and, above all, with Russia, Germany, Poland and the USA.

In this connection the President believes that the Verkhovnaya Rada should speed up the adoption of laws that would comply with the European institutions and standards.

The head of the Ukrainian state also expressed himself for Ukraine's gradual drawing closer with NATO. He stressed at the same time that "Ukraine is ready to join NATO, realizing that this is a lengthy and stage-by-stage process."