Ukraine to deepen ties with RF, integrate in EU-Yushchenko

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has said the strengthening of good neighbour relations with Russia, joining the WTO and creating a free trade area with the EU are Ukraine’s priorities. “Ukraine is ready to move as quickly as possible along this way,” Yushchenko said at a traditional annual meeting with representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Ukraine, the press service of the Ukrainian president reported on Friday.



“There will be no secondary matters” in the country’s foreign policy, the Ukrainian head of state stressed.



“We’ll work everywhere: there where Ukraine has interests and there where it will have interests,” Yushchenko said. The president also promised that Ukraine will be made “more attractive for investors” and its tourism sphere will be developed.



“We’ll not knock on the European Union’s door, but on a daily basis will introduce European social and humanitarian standards in Ukraine. We welcome all the signals on the part of the EU testifying to the support of this Ukrainian policy,” Yushchenko emphasised.



He also said that Ukraine is interested in strengthening relations with all its neighbours.



According to Yushchenko, new priorities have taken shape in the Ukrainian domestic and foreign policy. “Human dignity, freedom, rule of law - are the values the new power will defend,” the Ukrainian president said.



In the words of Yushchenko, “these values will be implemented by the new government the programme of which is built on expectation of the people who were on squares during the “orange” revolution.”

itar-tass