Ukraine to become OECD member - Zelensky

MOSCOW/PARIS. Oct 6 (Interfax) - Ukraine is starting the process of accession to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Ukrainian media quoted President Vladimir Zelensky as saying in a video address.

"It is one of the most prestigious global organizations. It unites 38 strongest states. These are democracies, these are market economies, this is the majority of the world's economic potential, ranging from Austria to Japan, from the United States of America to South Korea, from Canada to Turkey. Ukraine will be among them in this format as well," Zelensky said.

"We submitted our application for admission. It was endorsed by the organization. Ukraine received the special status of an acceding country. And we will fulfill all the necessary conditions for full membership," he said.

"As soon as this year, the regional office of the organization will start working in Kiev. For us, this will mean another powerful line of economic, technological and value cooperation with the global community," Zelensky said.

The OECD, in turn, circulated its Secretary General Mathias Cormann's statement in Paris on Wednesday, confirming that the OECD is starting accession dialogue with Ukraine at Kiev's request.

"Following a request received from [Ukrainian] Prime Minister Denis Shmygal to start the process of accession of Ukraine to the OECD, the OECD Council has decided to recognize Ukraine as a prospective member country," according to the statement.

Following the conclusion of this initial accession dialogue, the OECD Council will then consider the opening of accession discussions and the preparation of a draft accession roadmap, Cormann said.