ALEKSANDER BOZHKO: ARMENIAN-UKRAINIAN RELATIONS EXPERIENCE DYNAMIC DEVELOPMENT
By Gohar Gevorgian
AZG Armenian Daily
06/05/2006
Aleksander Bozhko, Ambassador of Ukraine to Armenia, expressed
deep condolences to the families of the victims in the May 3 crash
of A320 jet and stated that president of Ukraine had already sent
his condolences to RA and RF presidents. He said this at the press
conference at the National Press Club.
As for the relations of our countries, Mr. ambassador stated that
the positions of Armenia and Ukraine coincide especially in the
processes of integration into Europe. Mr. ambassador also emphasized
the importance constitutional amendments carried out by Armenia.
Mr. Bozhko said that the annual goods turnover of the
Armenian-Ukrainian amounted to $110 million, while in the first three
months of 2006, the goods turnover doubled as compared with the
same period in 2005. As for the political relations, he said that
the visit of Artur Baghdasarian, chairman of RA National Assembly,
to Ukraine was quite a fruitful one. He added that it is expected
that Vartan Oskanian, RA foreign minister, and RA president Robert
Kocharian will also visit Ukraine in the coming few months.
In response to the question of the journalists, how he would comment
the pro-Azerbaijani orientation of his country, Mr. Bozhko stated
that the home interests and issues of the given country condition
the position of each country. Besides, he said that in the course
of the Moscow meeting of the CIS Foreign Ministers in end 2005, only
Georgia, Azerbaijan and Moldova supported the suggestion of Ukraine
to investigate the case of raging famine in Ukraine in 1932-33.
As for Ukraine’s determination to join NATO, Mr. Bozhko said that a
country should keep in line with the relevant high requirements of
this organization.
He added that Ukraine is a normal European country and its wish to
become a member of NATO is quite natural.
Besides, Mr. Bozhko stated that Ukraine is still interested in
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline. Moreover, he said that they take certain
steps in this issue. He expressed confidence that the project may
be implemented only in case of Europe’s consent and interest in
the project. As for the recent deal of RA Government with Gazprom,
Mr. Bozhko said that RA authorities had to sign the agreement.
Mr. Bozhko said that the orange revolution was of great importance
both for Ukraine and for the whole region. He added that millions
of people who carried out the revolution attained the goal of making
changes. He said that though the authorities didn’t keep some of the
promises, Ukraine managed to carry out good parliamentary elections.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
