During his visit to Germany Ukraine's President Victor Yushchenko met with German business leaders for talks in Berlin, President's press office reported.
His speech focused on key issues of Ukraine’s economic and political development and prospects of business cooperation with Germany.
The President said the political situation in our country was stable. He stated that the dialogue involving different political forces was aimed at “uniting the nation.”
“I would say this dialogue is quite productive and its dynamics is good,” he said.
He added that it should help Ukrainians compromise on the most controversial issues.
“I am glad these topics [language, church, Euro-Atlantic
integration, etc.] are being discussed by Ukraine’s political elite, which
will have to answer these questions democratically. I am sure these answers will
be given,” he said.
Yushchenko reiterated his intention to lead Ukraine into the European Union, NATO and WTO, and to sign a free trade agreement with the European Union.
The Head of State characterized the country’s economy as “quite stable” and insisted that this year’s economic achievements be preserved in order to have a balanced budget in 2007.
The President and the business leaders discussed ways to develop energy cooperation between the two countries, particularly by extending the Odesa-Brody-Plock oil pipeline and delivering gas from the Caspian region to the EU via Ukraine.
Yushchenko said Ukraine exported energy and outlined plans of adapting our energy system to the European network.
“Ukraine really wants to implement energy efficiency projects, including delivering gas to the EU,” he said, adding that our country was ready to modernize its gas transportation system and introduce energy efficiency technologies.
The President also said Ukraine could explore oil fields and produce oil with Germans in the Black Sea shelf. He encouraged those present to invest in projects to build rockets, aircraft and ships.
Economy Minister Volodymyr Makukha, Deputy Chief of Staff Oleksandr Chalyy and Ukraine’s Ambassador to Germany Ihor Dolgov attended the meeting.
