On October 19, 2006 the work visit of Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Borys Tarasyuk to France started. During the visit to Paris, the Minister met with his French colleague Philippe Douste-Blazy and conveyed the personal message from the President of Ukraine, the MFA press office informed.
In the course of the meeting, the problems of European and international security as well as a wide range of urgent issues of bilateral cooperation were discussed.
Philippe Douste-Blazy emphasized that France apprehended the confirmation of the course to European integration by the government of Ukraine with satisfaction and demonstrated readiness to support Ukraine in implementation of measures in the framework of specific programmes later on. In this context, the parties noted start of work of French advisors for reformation of the State Service at the Central Administrative Board of the State Service of Ukraine, a legal advisor at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, an advisor for agriculture and an advisor of the General Headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
The Head of the Ukrainian foreign policy office informed his French colleague of preparation for the Ukraine-EU Summit which will be held on October 27, 2006 in Helsinki.
The Ministers paid special attention to analysis of implementation of the roadmap of the Ukrainian-French relations signed in 2005 and development of the new document for 2007 – 2008 which is to contribute to achievement of significantly higher level of mutual understanding and political trust. Mr Tarasyuk emphasized that subscription of the new roadmap should be the main element of the future visit of the President of France Jacques Chirac to Ukraine.
Mr Tarasyuk and Mr Douste-Blazy expressed satisfaction with the open dialogue between representatives of small and medium business which continues contributing to stable tendency to further increase of bilateral economic trade exchanges. The parties noted significant increase of French investments to Ukraine in the first half year (for the six months of the current year, the volume of French direct investments was $361.6 million).
The Ministers agreed to visit Toulouse jointly for cooperation intensification in aircraft construction.
During the meeting, the parties also achieved agreement on holding political consultations.
