President Eddie Fenech Adami, today Wednesday 9 July had talks with the President of the Republic of Ukraine, H.E. Viktor Yushchenko at the Horodetskyi House, Kiev following an official welcome ceremony at the start of the two-day Official Visit to Ukraine.

The President is accompanied by the Hon Tonio Borg, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

A joint statement of the talks will be issued

While addressing the media, President Yushchenko described today’s meeting as an opportunity to strengthen the friendship between both States and to increase economic exchanges.  Malta and Ukraine need to finalise a number of agreements in the coming months to regulate our bilateral relations. These include agreements on education, culture,  science and technology, investment guarantees and double taxation. President Yushchenko  spoke of the number of years and the hard work Malta went through prior to EU accession. The Ukranian President also referred to cooperation in financial services. President Yushchenko felt that Ukraine needs to learn more in these areas to promote its growth.  Other topics included visa facilitation and cultural exchanges.

President Fenech Adami said that it is an honour and a pleasure for him to visit Ukraine, a first such visit of a Head of State of Malta to Ukraine. The President said that, regardless of the geographical distance separating the two countries, both countries can identify matters  and issues of common interest. The President spoke on Malta’s experience in the process leading to and including EU membership: restructuring to conform to EU standards.  As part of its review process, Malta highlighted three niche areas which were meant to bolster further economic growth: financial services, pharmaceutical industry and tourism, particularly the teaching of English to foreign students.

At the end of official talks, the Co-operation Agreement in Law Enforcement and  the Agreement between Malta and Ukraine on the Field of Tourism were signed by the Minister Tonio Borg and by the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Volodymyr Ogryzko.

Later,  President Fenech Adami and President Yushchenko accompanied by Mrs Fenech Adami and Mrs Yushchenko laid flowers at the monument in Mykhailivska Square commemorating the Victims of the 1932 and 1933 Great Famine (Holdomor) in Ukraine.

Mrs. Fenech Adami and Mrs Kateryna Yushchenko, who heads the Supervisory Board of the International Charity Fund Ukraine 3000, a Charity similair to the Malta Community Chest Fund, exchanged views on the workings of both Funds. Mrs Fenech Adami accompanied by Mrs Yuschcenko also visited the Museum of Historical Treasure of Ukraine, Scythian Gold.

In early afternoon, President Fenech Adami and President Yushchenko addressed a Business Forum, an opportunity for Maltese government entities and businessmen to seek prospects in the Ukranian market and to attract business to Malta.  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in coordination with the Chamber of Commerce of Ukraine organised also one-to-one meetings between businessmen from both countries. (Speech issued already by DOI – PR0979)

The Ukranian businessmen met Mr Joseph Zammit Tabona from Finance Malta and Chairman of Malta Enterprise, Mr Alan Camilleri, who also addressed the Forum highlighting investment, business and services industry opportunities in Malta.  

Other representatives from government bodies and business were from Malta Tourism Authority, Air Malta, Technoline Ltd/Ecologic Ltd, Ta’ Grezz Traditional Foods, Farmers’ Central Co-operative Society Ltd, 2i Ltd., MGA Design Consulting Ltd., Megabyte Ltd., Vassallo Builders Group Ltd., Bristow Potteries, Fimbank, Mondial Travel Group and Ganado Sammut Advocates.

Ms Yulia Tymoskenk, Prime Minister of Ukraine will call on President Fenech Adami for talks, this evening.

Later, The President and Mrs Yushchenko will host the President and Mrs. Fenech Adami to an Official Dinner at Horodetskyi House, Kiev.

The Chamber of Commerce of Ukraine will host the Maltese Official Delegation and Business Delegation at a reception after the Official Dinner.