Chief od Staff Baloha met US Ambassador Taylor

On September 19, Ukraine's Secretariat Chief of Staff Victor Baloha met with US Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor to discuss ways ofdeveloping Ukrainian-American relations.

In the course of discussion, the main attention was focused on Ukraine’s cooperation with NATO. Victor Baloha assured the Ambassador our country's foreign course to join NATO would not change, teh president press office informed.

“Victor Yanukovych’s statement on Ukraine’s alleged unwillingness to join Action Plan on the NATO membership will have no impact on our long-term relations and Ukraine’s strategic goal to join NATO,” he said, adding that, “according to the Constitution, neither the Prime Minister nor his government have powers given to the President of Ukraine in the area of foreign policy.”

Then the Chief of Staff said the President wanted to build effective cooperation with parliament and the cabinet.

“That is why the President meets with the Prime Minister every week and will soon hold such weekly consultations with Verkhovna Rada Speaker Oleksandr Moroz,” he said.

Mr Taylor congratulated Victor Baloha on his appointment and wished him effective work. He said the United States wanted to enhance cooperation with Ukraine and urgedour country to implement programs with the Millennium Challenge Federal Corporation.

The sides also consideredways to solve the Trans-dniester conflict. Baloha said the President’s position was firm: “Ukraine supports Moldova’s territorial integrity and calls on all the sides to immediately resume talks and work to settle the Trans-dniester conflict.”