Medvedev, Yanukovich to meet in Sochi Aug 11 – Kremlin

MOSCOW, August 10 (Itar-Tass) — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will meet with his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovich in Sochi on August 11, the Kremlin press service reported on Wednesday.

“The presidents’ talks will continue an active political dialogue between Russia and Ukraine,” the press service said.

During the summit, Medvedev and Yanukovich are expected to discuss a wide range of bilateral and regional issues. Special attention is due to be paid to integration processes on the CIS space. The presidents of the two countries are scheduled to focus on the Customs Union between Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan and the common economic space.

The Russian and Ukrainian presidents are planning to discuss the implementation of the existing agreements and key projects in different fields – in the energy sector, as well as in such areas as nuclear power, trade, space, aviation, shipbuilding, transport, agriculture, and military-technical cooperation.

Priority attention will be riveted to prospects for expanding trade and economic relations. In January-May trade turnover between Russia and Ukraine reached 20.4 billion U.S. dollars and increased by 57.4 percent. Russia’ s export reached about 13 billion U.S. dollars (export increased by 60.3 percent) and import amounted to 7.35 billion U.S. dollars (import grew by 52.3 percent). Thus, by the yearend trade can reach 50 billion U.S. dollars.

The creation of favourable conditions for business structures and investment cooperation can be priority issues at the talks. The presidents are also planning to discuss prospects for expanding inter-regional and border cooperation, preparations for the 2nd Russian-Ukrainian inter-regional economic forum and the implementation of joint projects in order to create more comfortable conditions for citizens to cross the border.

Medvedev and Yanukovich will consider the strengthening of the legal base for the stay of the Black Sea Fleet on the territory of Ukraine and different aspects of bilateral cultural and humanitarian cooperation.

The summit in Sochi is expected to be an important stage in preparing a session of the Russian-Ukrainian interstate commission.

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