President of Ukraine pleased with Riga talks

President of Ukraine Victor Yushchenko and Latvia’s President Vairas Vīķes-Freibergas have presided over Ukrainian-Latvian talks, which resulted in three bilateral agreements.

They discussed ways to forge closer economic ties between the two countries and spoke about projects that would help Ukraine jointhe EU and NATO.

Yushchenko thanked Latvia for supporting our Euro-Atlantic aspirations. He said Ukraine had found it really important to conduct the March 26 elections fairlyto enjoy new perspectives and fulfill its democratic ambitions.

Ukraine’s Head of State added that they had agreed to resume the work of the Ukrainian-Latvian Trade Commission, which should work out a two-year action plan including “specific agreements, particularly in the field of energy.” The talks were thereby focused on Ukraine and Latvia’s integration with the EU energy system as “the only way to effectively carry out energy policies.”

“We would like to improve our bilateral relations, particularly in the field of energy,” Victor Yushchenko said.

Following the talks, which “were held in the atmosphere of mutual understanding and support,” the Chief of State said he was pleased with their results.

In her turn, Mrs. Vike-Freiberga assured her counterpart that Ukraine could rely on Latvia. She said “it is really important for Ukraine and Latvia to develop economic and business relations, whose potential has not been fully used,” and added that the business climate in Ukraine “has considerably improved since 2005.”

President of Latvia also complimented President Yushchenko on the commendable conduct of “the truly democratic elections" but then presented her heartfelt condolences to the Ukrainian nation over the 20th Chornobyl Disaster Anneversary.

“This catastrophe showed that the Soviet system was faulty and incapable of protecting its people,” she opined.

Mrs. Vike-Freiberga said she was also pleased with the results of today’s negotiations and declared that Ukraine and Latvia sharedthe same vision of the future and were building mutually beneficial relations.

Yushchenko said Ukrainian-Latvian relations “have quite a firm legal basis” and added that the signed agreements would only strengthen our friendship.