President of the Slovak Republic pays working visit to Ukraine.

President Ivan Gašparovič met with his Ukrainian counterpart, Victor Yushchenko, at the Vyšné Nemecké – Užhorod border crossing.

The Presidents visited Ukrainian and Slovak cargo terminals at the border. After the meeting both heads of state highly appreciated the growing quality of bilateral cooperation.

The Slovak President also expressed the belief that once the political situation after the recent early elections in Ukraine is stabilized, the mutual cooperation will continue to actively develop. “Ukraine is our important partner, both politically and economically. The Slovak Republic always encouraged dialogue between the EU and Ukraine”, Ivan Gašparovič said.

“In terms of the economy, Ukraine is one of our important prospective business partners. Moreover it is also a significant transit country for the import of raw materials from the Russian Federation and Central Asia.”

In the economic area it is important for the Slovak Republic to settle the issues of the Kryvyi Rih Extractive and Conditioning Combine of Oxygenated Ores, the construction of a one-way electricity connection from Ukraine to Slovakia, as well as the possibility of transporting light oil from the Caspian Sea region via the Družba oil pipeline and the improvement of the road infrastructure and aviation transport between Bratislava and Kiev.

The Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko drew attention to an inter-ministerial contract on the local border traffic regime which is being prepared for signing, as well as an agreement on mutual border checks.