President meets Slovak Foreign Minister

th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

Viktor Yanukovych noted that Ukraine intends to continue developing intensive political dialogue with the Slovak Republic. The important step in this direction would be official visit of President of Slovakia Ivan Gasparovic to Ukraine.

"I will be extremely happy to welcome President Gasparovic in Ukraine and about the opportunity to discuss perspectives and plans of our cooperation", said Viktor Yanukovych.

Ukraine's President also emphasized the need for intensification of Ukrainian-Slovak trade and economic cooperation. "Despite the negative impact of global crisis, we have all the prerequisites to soon surpass the pre-downturn level", said President Yanukovych.

Speaking of European integration, Viktor Yanukovych noted that it remains a key priority for Ukraine. The main tasks for the near future, according to the President, are signature of the Association Agreement including the introduction of a free trade area, as well as the adoption of road map for visa-free travel for Ukrainian citizens to the EU.

Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic expressed his country's readiness to develop its relations with Ukraine, which Slovakia would like to see "reliable and predictable”.