US and Ukraine to sign agreements on cooperation

News / 31 March 2008 | 17:50

Two Ukrainian – US agreements on cooperation in research and use of outer space, as well as on trade and investment cooperation, will be signed at Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry on Monday. Ukraine’s Ambassador to the US Oleh Shamshur said this during a meeting at the press club of Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry.

 

According to him, the agreement on cooperation in outer space research is important as recognition of Ukraine’s capacities in the field of science and high technologies. Cabinet’s press office reports.

The second agreement, on trade and investment cooperation, Shamshur says, will provide a powerful impetus for Ukrainian – US cooperation in the field of trade, i.e. further liberalization of appropriate proceedings. It will also help draw US investments in the Ukrainian economy. The Ambassador informed that, after signing of the agreement, a council will be set up for trade and economic investments to discuss cooperation issues.

The agreement on outer space cooperation will be signed by National Space Agency Director Yuriy Alekseev and US Ambassador to Ukraine William Tailor.

The agreement on trade and investment cooperation was signed in Washington on Sunday by US Trade Representative Susan Schwab, and is going to be signed on Monday by Ukraine’s Economy Minister Bohdan Danylyshyn, Hrushko said.

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Yushchenko demands to follow coalition agreement

News / 31 March 2008 | 16:20

President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko demands steady fulfillment of the coalition agreement, as well as adoption of laws, foreseen by this document. Press secretary of the President Iryna Vannikova said, informing about results of the meeting of the President of Ukraine with the People’s deputies from the “Our Ukraine – People’s Self-Defense” faction.

According to Vannikova, during the meeting the President has emphasized that steady fulfillment of the coalition agreement by the factions of the majority will testify the real spirit of partnership and efficiency of the coalition.

The Head of the State has reminded that a row of draft bills, which are foreseen by the coalition agreement, must be adopted soon.

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Yatsenyuk asks People’s deputies to appoint vice-chairmen

News / 31 March 2008 | 15:45

Speaker of the parliament Arseniy Yatsenyuk considers that on Tuesday the parliament must elect VRU vice-chairmen. As ForUm’s correspondent reports, Yatsenyuk has stated at the conciliatory council on Monday.

Yatsenyuk explains that there is a necessity to solve this question as, for example, tomorrow he will take part in a row of arrangements, connected with the visit of US President George Bush.

The Speaker also emphasizes that in near future he plans to visit Moscow: “I would like tomorrow to solve the question on vice-chairmen, because otherwise we will be forced to consider the question on calendar schedule,” he said.

Yatsenyuk also considers that the People’s deputies must introduce changes into the VRU regulations in order to legitimate the day of the opposition.

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Taylor: Bush needs arguments to help Ukraine to obtain MAP

News / 31 March 2008 | 15:05

US President George Bush has worked much with leaders of the NATO countries-members concerning question on Ukraine’s joining Membership Action Plan. US Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor has stated at a briefing on Monday, ForUm’s correspondent reports.

Taylor has reminded that according to Bush, Ukraine’s joining MAP will be good both for Ukraine and NATO. He has noted that strong claims of representatives of the Ukrainian government concerning joining MAP are very important.

“President Bush had strong desire to visit Kyiv for the purpose to negotiate with leaders of the country and other representatives of Ukraine in order to have more arguments during the discussion in Bucharest,” he said.

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Ukraine to form free trade zone with USA

News / 31 March 2008 | 14:00

Strategic line of President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko is an initiation to form free trade zone with all Ukrainian strategic trade partners. Deputy Head of the President’s Secretariat, Olexander Chaly, has stated at a briefing on Monday, ForUm’s correspondent reports.

Chaly informs that about 10 months ago Yushchenko sent a letter to the US President, with a proposition to start discussion on possible formation of the free trade zone between Ukraine and the USA.

“We consider the answer as positive. Now we sign an agreement on trade-investment cooperation. Within the framework of this cooperation the Ukrainian-American council for trade and investments will be formed. And I’m sure that this council will be headed by Ministers of Economy of two countries and practical dialog on our trade-investment regimes in the direction of the free trade zone formation between Ukraine and the USA will start,” Chaly noted.

Besides, Chaly states that all documents, which will be signed within the visit of US President George Bush to Kyiv, concern the cooperation of Ukraine and the USA in the technological areas.

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Saakashvili: Nato would make "a dramatic mistake" by denying invitations to Ukraine and Georgia

News / 31 March 2008 | 13:24

Denying Georgia and Ukraine the right to move towards Nato membership this week would amount to appeasement of Russia, according to Mikheil Saakashvili, Georgia’s president, who added that such a move would grant Moscow effective veto power over membership of the alliance.

The decision over whether to grant the two former Soviet republics membership action plans (MAPs) – the final step before becoming an alliance member – heads the agenda of the Nato summit in Bucharest that begins on Wednesday.

The question threatens to split Nato. The US and alliance members from the former Soviet bloc support an invitation, while other allies – mainly from western Europe – oppose such an offer, in part because of strong Russian opposition.

In a telephone interview with the Financial Times, in which Mr Saakashvili also promised to send a large contingent of troops for the Nato mission in Afghanistan, he said Nato would make “a dramatic mistake” by denying invitations to Ukraine and Georgia, saying it would reward hardliners in Moscow.

Mr Saakashvili said some governments were arguing it was better for Russia to see Nato united rather than arguing over MAP for Georgia and Ukraine. “I think this is a very, very wrong argument. Nato united around what? Around appeasement? We’ve seen Europe united once like this in this last century and we saw where it led,” he said.

Mr Saakashvili disputed claims that granting MAP to the two countries would encourage Russia to make trouble, including in Georgia’s two disputed territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. “If we get MAP, the aggressive elements will back off. If we don’t get it, that’s exactly when they are going to start all kinds of trouble,” he said.

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Ukraine’s joining MAP depends on Bush?

News / 31 March 2008 | 12:55

Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk held negotiations with many heads of the countries-members of NATO concerning possible Ukraine’s joining Membership Action Plan. As ForUm’s correspondent reports, he stated in an interview with “1+1″ TV channel.

“Today nobody is sure what will be the final result at the Bucharest summit. US President Bush has the key task. If he has enough arguments, then everything is good in Bucharest,” the Prime Minister of Poland said.

“We together with President Kaczynski are unanimous concerning support for Ukraine in this question. The President will represent Poland in Bucharest, and I’m sure that he will apply his influence in order to help Ukraine,” Tusk noted.

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President brought order to Mystetsky Arsenal territory (photo)

News / 31 March 2008 | 12:00

President Viktor Yushchenko took part in the arrangements of bringing order to Mystetsky Arsenal territory. On the whole there were around 600 people participating in the action, including Education Minister Ivan Vakarchuk, Defense Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov, Health Minister Vasyl Knyazevych, State Affairs Department head Ihor Tarasyuk, Kyiv institutes students, cadets, etc. President’s press office reports.

Kiev Arsenal factory is one of the oldest and most famous industrial factories of Kyiv. In 2004 it was suggested to establish a modern art gallery in the oldest 19th century building of Arsenal. Later, President Viktor Yushchenko expressed his support to the museum idea but suggested that the museum had to be state-run and dominated by more traditional art pieces in order to become a “Ukrainian Hermitage”. The process of converting the building to a civil use is underway. Most of construction works are to be finished by the end of 2008 and the museum is to openin its doors by Independence Day of 2009.

 

Photos are taken from the official President’s site.

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Bush supports European aspirations of Ukraine

News / 31 March 2008 | 11:29

The USA promises nothing to France and Germany for the support of Ukraine’s joining NATO Membership Action Plan at the summit in Bucharest. As ForUm’s correspondent reports, George Bush stated in an interview with TV channel Inter on Sunday.

“I think that Ukraine’s joining NATO is a good policy. We have no other promises, except that this is the right move. That’s why I’m guided by what is best for NATO and Ukraine,” he said.

Bush has reminded that the majority of the Ukrainian people doesn’t support Ukraine’s joining NATO. “If Ukrainian people say no in the end of the process, this is their right, but I think that we must consider the decisions of officials, who were elected by people,” the American President noted.

Bush has confessed that he supports European aspirations of Ukraine. “I think that the desire of Ukraine to join NATO is good for Ukraine, as well as for NATO,” he emphasized.

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President Yushchenko paid a visit to Vasylkiv

News / 31 March 2008 | 10:33

President Viktor Yushchenko on March 28 paid a visit to Vasylkiv (Kyiv region), where the 40th Fighter Aviation Brigade of the Ukrainian Air Force is located. President’s press office reports.

President got acquainted with brigade’s mission and objectives, as well as its organization and duties. He also viewed the aircrafts and other equipment used by the brigade. Viktor Yushchenko was shown latest national enterprises’ elaborations in modernization of the Sukhoi Su-25 attack planes and Mikoyan MiG-29 fighter planes, Aero L-39 Albatros jet trainer aircrafts, Mil Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters and radar stations.

Communicating with journalists in President Yushchenko said that 2008 military budget should “become a budget of development”. According to President Yushchenko, current budget, which foresees 5 percent financing growth compared to the last year is unacceptable. The need to increase army funding is moreover needed regarding transition of the Ukrainian army to contract base.

Within the framework of his visit to Vasylkiv President Yushchenko performed a flight in Sukhoi Su-27 jet fighter. The flight lasted 35 minutes with deputy commander of the Air Force of Ukraine Major-General Vasyl Nikiforov in control of the plane.

After the flight President Yushchenko said: “I felt that the plane is extremely controllable; it appeared to me that it was performing all elements very obediently. There was no discomfort”.

In his visit President was accompanied by Defense Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov

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