Yushchenko accepted credentials

Kyrgyz Ambassador Erkin Mamkulov, Turkish Ambassador Erdogan Ishjan, and Greek Ambassador Karalampos Dimitriu presented their credentials to Victor Yushchenko at the Chimera House, presidential press office reported.

At a meeting with the Greek Ambassador, the President claimed that our relations with Greece were dynamically developing. He particularly insisted that it was important to forge closer economic ties between the two countries.

Then Yushchenko and Mamkulov discussed ways to expand political and economic cooperation between Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan. They both believe a special meeting of the Commission on Economic Cooperation and an opening of the Ukrainian Trade House in Bishkek would help promote it. They also discussed some humanitarian projects intended for about 38 thousand Ukrainians residing in Kyrgyzstan.

Yushchenko and Ishjan also discussed economic cooperation. In 2005, the export/import rate between Ukraine and Turkey exceeded USD 2.5 bln, and the Head of State said this result can be improved. He remarked that the countries had no problems in their relations but had, in fact, many things in common, for instance, their ambition to join the European Union. They also spoke about cooperation in the Black Sea region. The ambassador said in 2006 top officials from Ukraine and Turkey planned to exchange visits and added that Yushchenko’s visit to Turkey last year had given a new impetus to the development of our relations.