KIEV, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine may receive a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Membership Action Plan (MAP) in the next few years, but for this it should carry out reforms provided for in the annual cooperation programs with the alliance, the UNIAN news agency reported Tuesday.
"Ukraine will join NATO. And in the next few years, we may receive a MAP -- Action Plan for membership in the North Atlantic Alliance. But before, we need to implement many reforms provided for in the annual national programs," Yegor Chernev, chairman of the Permanent Ukrainian Parliament Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, wrote on social media.
Ukraine needs to implement political, economic, defense, security and legal reforms to obtain MAP, a NATO program of advice, assistance and practical support tailored to countries wishing to join the alliance, Chernev said after an online conversation with NATO Deputy Secretary-General Mircea Geoana.
"First of all, it is, of course, the Security Service reform, the introduction of parliamentary control over the security and defense sector and a new law on state secrets," Chernev said.
On Sept. 14, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky approved the country's National Security Strategy, underlining that receiving NATO membership is Ukraine's strategic priority.
Last year Ukraine's parliament backed amendments to the Constitution confirming Ukraine's path toward NATO, while Zelensky stated that Kiev is ready to speed up preparations for NATO membership. Enditem
