UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT MET ARMENIAN FM VARDAN OSKANYAN

UNIAN , Ukraine
June 20 2006

Victor Yushchenko has met with Armenia’s Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanyan.

They discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and
both agreed that it was important to activate Ukrainian-Armenian
cooperation, according to the President’s press-office.

Mr. Yushchenko said he was pleased with the dynamics of trade with
Armenia and then invited President Robert Kocharyan to visit Ukraine.

In his turn, Mr. Oskanyan said the two nations had always been good
friends. He added that Ukraine and Armenia had already signed about
sixty bilateral agreements. The minister said the countries both
wanted to join the European Union.

They also discussed ways to ensure stability and security in
the Caucasian region. Victor Yushchenko said Ukraine wanted the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to be settled peacefully.

The Head of State said 400, 000 Armenians lived in Ukraine, adding
that it was important to forge closer cultural and humanitarian ties
between the states.