Ukraine

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European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek will pay an official visit to Ukraine next Monday and Tuesday (21-22 December). He has been invited to Kyiv by his counterpart the Speaker of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada Mr Volodymyr Lytvyn. During the visit President Buzek will also meet with President Viktor Yushchenko, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and the leader of the opposition Viktor Janukovych.

In Kyiv President Jerzy Buzek will participate in a roundtable with representatives of non-governmental organisations and hold a discussion with students of international relations from the Taras Shevchenko University. A detailed programme of the visit can be found below.

Speaking ahead of his visit President Buzek said:" I am going to Kyiv with a message of solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people in the midst of the economic crisis. With my partners in Kyiv I intend to discuss further strengthening of cooperation between the EU and Ukraine, in particular its parliamentary aspect. In this regard I have high hopes of the new framework of the EURONEST Parliamentary Assembly which will be launched next year.

The EU and the European Parliament pay particular attention to the relations with Ukraine. It should be reminded that my visit will be the second of the President of the EP this year alone. For me Ukraine is one of the first foreign countries which I visit as President of the European Parliament".

On the upcoming presidential election in Ukraine Jerzy Buzek said: "The European Union does not support any candidate. We support Ukraine, your people and the democratic process. That is why this election needs to be free, fair and transparent. This is our concern".


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For further information:
Inga Rosińska, Spokeswoman
Mobile: +32 498 981 354
www.ep-president.eu


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Note for editors:

Please note that there will be TV news footage of the visit available for download in broadcast quality (MPG2) and web quality (MPG4) following the broadcast on Europe by Satellite on Tuesday at17.30 CET at the following address:
http://ec.europa.eu/avservices/ebs/schedule.cfm?page=1&date=12/22/2009

and on the ftp server:
ftp://epavvideoget:mo12ssb@ftpeps01.europarl.eu.int/epavvideo/CabinetPresident/Buzek_Ukrainia/


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Detailed programme:

Monday, 21 December 2009

15:15 Meeting with Mr Viktor Yanukovych, Leader of the Party of Regions
16:00 Meeting with Mr Viktor Yuschenko, President of Ukraine
17:15 Meeting with Mr Volodymyr Lytvyn, Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine followed by a press point

Tuesday, 22 December 2009

09:00 Discussion with students of the International Relations Institute
10:30 Round table with NGO representatives
14:00 Meeting with Mrs Yulia Tymoshenko, Prime Minister of Ukraine - Location: Official Delegations Hall Borispol Airport

Time of all meetings can be subject of further change