Friday, August 7, 2009

President meets delegates from the U.S. Congress

President Victor Yushchenko held a meeting with a delegation of the U.S. Congress headed by the House Republican Minority Leader John Boehner.

"Our relations with the USA are significant for us. We think they are developing very rapidly", said Victor Yushchenko opening the meeting. He expressed the belief that our countries have clear priorities for development of bilateral relations, particularly the Strategic Partnership Charter and Ukraine - United States Action Plan.

V. Yushchenko also noted active diplomatic relations between our countries. "It is very important for us that Ukrainian policy of democratization of political processes saw large internal and external support", noted the President pointing to role of such support from the American government.

The President expressed appreciation of the Congress members' initiative to visit Ukraine saying that such a step is very important especially in the context of the recent visit of the U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.

"It means a lot for us to have active dialogue with the American authorities and American opposition", emphasized the President.

From his part John Boehner assured that the Congressmen came to Ukraine as its friends. "We are interested in developing better understanding of democracy in Ukraine and prospects of its further advance", he said.

During the meeting the sides have also dwelled on a number of topical questions on the agenda of Ukrainian-American strategic partnership, particularly strengthening the energy security of Ukraine, Euro-Atlantic integration course of Ukraine and overcoming the financial crisis, including development of cooperation between Ukraine and the IMF.