PRESIDENT DEMETRIS Christofias wrapped up the first official visit of a Cyprus president to Ukraine yesterday, saying that Ukraine could count on him to be its “very good friend” in the EU.
During his visit, four interstate agreements were signed, the Cypriot Embassy in Kiev was opened and the Cyprus-Ukraine Business Forum was held, with the participation of 40 businessmen accompanying the president.
Christofias also received an honorary doctorate from the University of Mariupol as well as being awarded the title of honorary citizen of the city, which the president noted has been twinned with Paphos.
On leaving Mariupol for Donetsk where he was due to fly to Geneva, Christofias highlighted the strong traditional and historical ties between the two countries. He said the visit was very important to him as a person first and foremost and then as President of the Republic.
“When your friends talk about your many years of service to your country and people, that indeed is a recognition that surely reflects the struggle of the people of Cyprus for independence and freedom,” he said.
Christofias praised the work of university rector Konstyantyn Balabanov in developing cultural relations between the two countries, through the University of Mariupol, noting that he is also the honorary consul of the Cyprus Republic.
The president reiterated the firm support of Cyprus to the efforts of Ukraine to become a full EU member state.
On the sidelines of the official visit, Foreign Minister Marcos Kyprianou yesterday met his Ukrainian counterpart Kostyantyn Gryshchenko in Kiev, where they discussed the Cyprus problem in view of Ukraine’s upcoming presidency of the Council of Europe.
Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister Antonis Paschalides met the Ukrainian Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Yuriy Boyko, discussing issues concerning renewable energy sources as well as financial and investment relations between Cyprus and Ukraine.
On Monday, Christofias met Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in Kiev, where Yanukovych highlighted that the trade balance between the two countries came to $300m.
He added that the bulk of Cypriot investment in Ukraine reaches $11bn, while Ukrainian investment in Cyprus comes to $6.5bn.
Yanukovych said he expected to sign a deal on a double taxation agreement by October 2011.
