Minister Dermot Ahern receives Ukrainian Foreign Minister on Visit to Dublin
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dermot Ahern, T.D., this afternoon welcomed Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Borys Tarasyuk, to Ireland and discussed with him ways of further developing bilateral relations between Ireland and Ukraine. The two Ministers also spoke about EU-Ukraine relations, regional issues and international issues.
On this first official visit by a Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Minister Tarasyuk made a courtesy call on the President and he will also meet the Taoiseach, the Ceann Comhairle and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. This morning he signed formal documents on the development of cooperation in the areas of culture and education with the Ministers for Arts, Sport and Tourism and for Education and Science. He will also meet the Joint Committee on European Affairs this afternoon.
Speaking after his meeting with Minister Tarasyuk, Minister Ahern said:
“This visit is taking place in the context of the rapid development in political relations between Ireland and Ukraine over the past year. Minister Tarasyuk is well aware that the difficult reform process begun in Ukraine following the democratic election of President Yushchenko needs to be pursued. I wanted to encourage and support him on that path. I had the pleasure of being the first Irish Foreign Minister to make an official bilateral visit to Ukraine last July, and an Oireachtas delegation was there in October. I am delighted that Foreign Minister Tarasyuk has now been able to make a reciprocal visit to Ireland.
A number of initiatives which were discussed in July are now beginning to bear fruit, including in the areas of cultural and educational cooperation. While in Ukraine I undertook to commit €1 million to support administrative reform in Ukraine. Efforts are well under way to deliver on this commitment. I know that in the discussions with Minister Martin the focus will be on building up economic relations between the two countries. Ukraine represents a huge potential market for Irish goods and services, and offers attractive opportunities for Irish entrepreneurs.
This visit is a further sign of the broadening of relations between our two countries.”
ENDS+++
8th February 2006
