Clinton phones Leonid Kravchuk

IntelNews

KYYIV - U.S. President Bill Clinton spoke with Ukrainian President Leonid Kravchuk by telephone on Tuesday, January 26. They discussed Ukrainian-American bilateral relations, focusing on cooperation to solve Ukraine's economic problems during its transition to a market economy. President Clinton said he supports the Ukrainian government's moves toward economic reform.

At Mr. Clinton's request, Mr. Kravchuk described the preparations for the ratification of START I and stressed that the Ukrainian government and the president will accede to the decision of the Ukrainian Parliament.

President Clinton confirmed the U.S. administration's intentions to allocate at least $175 million to promote the dismantling of nuclear weapons in Ukraine and said the United States would provide Ukraine with the necessary safety guarantees.

President Kravchuk spoke about the results of the CIS summit in Minsk on January 22 and Ukrainian-Russian negotiations in Moscow on January 15. The two presidents agreed the Ukrainian foreign minister and the U.S. secretary of state will establish direct contacts as soon as possible to conduct consultations and negotiations on all mutual interests.

President Kravchuk congratulated President Clinton once again on his inauguration and expressed hope for further cooperation on an equal and mutally beneficial basis.

(This report is based on information from Ukrinform.)

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, January 31, 1993, No. 5, Vol. LXI

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