President holds NSDC meeting

President Victor Yushchenko chaired a meeting of National Security and Defense Council.

Agenda of the meeting included two subjects:

   •    fighting smuggling
   •    fighting corruption

Speaking at the event President Yushchenko criticized achievements in fighting corruption and smuggling.

According to him despite State Customs Service and Security Service have succeeded in cutting some smuggling channels, the system of illegal customs clearance itself was not destroyed.

Of special concerns, in President's words, are large number of cases of collusion of law enforcement bodies and smugglers. Here he mentioned corruption in courts with judges purposely delaying investigation of smuggling cases and illegally clear some businesses of any customs or other payments.

President also criticized prosecutor's offices and Security Service for inappropriate reaction to such cases.

He emphasized that Security Service should be coordinator in fighting smuggling and expressed readiness to listen to all suggestions by acting Security Service Head on reforming the institution so it could carry out its functions properly.

Visit to Lviv region

On November 1 President Victor Yushchenko will go with a working visit to Lviv region.

Freedom on Inter TV program

On October 31, at 21.30 President Victor Yushchenko will take part in 'Freedom on Inter' TV program.

President meets Belgian FM

President Victor Yushchenko meet the Prime Minister of Belgium Yves Leterme.

At the meeting sides discussed Ukraine’s course towards European and Euro-Atlantic integration, bilateral cooperation between Ukraine and Belgium, global international relations, etc.

At the beginning of the meeting President stressed expectancies of further deepening of cooperation between Ukraine and Belgium. According to him a Roadmap of Ukrainian-Belgian relations for 2009-2010, to be signed by the countries next month would be an important step towards that.

Victor Yushchenko also told Yves Leterme about anti-crisis measures, Ukraine is taking to prevent aggravation of world financial crisis impact on national economy.

Speaking about Ukraine’s aspiration to gain NATO MAP President emphasized that in no case it would result in internal tensions in Ukraine; quite the contrary – Ukraine’s success in gaining the Action Plan would put this sensitive subject off the agenda. He added that number of Ukrainians who support country’s membership in NATO is constantly growing and that final decision on membership will be made only through democratic procedures.

Beside that President Yushchenko expressed hope for Belgium’s favorable position on Ukraine’s aspiration to join the EU.

In addition the sides have discussed implementation of the Ukraine-EU agreement on simplification of EU visas issuing procedure.

NSDC meeting

On October 31 at 12.30, President Victor Yuschenko will open National Security nd Defense Council meeting.

Meeting with Belgian PM

On October 31 President VIctor Yushchenko will meet the Prime Minister of Belgium Yves Leterme.

Meeting on financial crisis

On October 30, at 14.00 President Victor Yushchenko will gather a meeting dedicated to overcoming financial crisis and stabilizing national currency.