British PM visits Ukraine on eve of G-7 summit (04/28/96)

British PM visits Ukraine on eve of G-7 summit

by Marta Kolomayets
Kyiv Press Bureau

KYIV - British Prime Minister John Major, en route to the Group of Seven summit meeting in Moscow, paid an official visit to Kyiv on April 18 where he praised Ukraine's commitment to reform and pledged Western aid in closing down the Chornobyl nuclear power plant.

Lauding what he called "remarkable economic and political reforms" over the last few years, Mr. Major, who visited Ukraine for the first time, said Great Britain intends to increase trade and investment in this nation of 52 million.

"We understand the difficulty very clearly of these economic reforms, but we are utterly confident that as they are carried forward, they will lead to a far better economic future for Ukraine," said Prime Minister Major at Mariyinsky Palace, where visiting dignitaries are received by Ukraine's leadership.

The prime minister and President Kuchma focused on issues relating to the shut down of Chornobyl, which was on the agenda of the G-7 summit in Moscow on April 19-20.

"We're fully committed to the implementation of the memorandum of understanding that has been signed between Ukraine and the G-7 (the aid plan signed in Ottawa in December 1995)," Mr. Major told journalists during a photo opportunity in the early afternoon, explaining that the issue of Chornobyl "is important to the president (Kuchma), important to me and important to the rest of the G-7."

"There are funds ready to be used, there are expert groups looking into what needs to be done. There is a EU review of the particular difficulties relating to the sarcophagus, so there is a lot to be discussed," Mr. Major said, referring to the summit he called the "G-7 plus 2" (noting the presence of Russian President Boris Yeltsin and Mr. Kuchma, who was invited for the April 20 session concerning Chornobyl).

"The memorandum contains the tactics for closing down the nuclear power plant," observed President Kuchma, adding that "Ukraine has made the decision to close down Chornobyl, now Ukraine looks to the G-7 for their desire and decision to participate in the implementation. I am confident that this question will be resolved," he said.

Both leaders agreed on a variety of topics and both talked of the "improved relationship" between Great Britain and Ukraine. Mr. Major said that a "visible illustration" of this partnership will include a new British Embassy in Kyiv, now in the planning stages.

He also took time to visit the new British Council office in the Ukrainian capital, announced that additional funds will be provided to Ukraine's energy sector through the "Know-How" Fund and told reporters that, very shortly, important business trade missions will come to Ukraine, including one headed by the Lord Mayor of London.

Also at the Mariyinsky Palace, Mr. Major and Prime Minister Yevhen Marchuk signed two agreements: "On the arrest and confiscation of income and profit in connection with criminal activities" and "On cooperation in combating illicit drug trafficking." Both government leaders called the agreements a key factor in combating international crime.

Issues concerning Ukraine's integration into the European Community and European security were discussed by the British leader and President Kuchma, with Prime Minister Major pointing out that "Ukraine's success is important for European stability."

"And we are firm supporters of the independent and democratic Ukraine that is being created," added Mr. Major.

Spending most of the day in meetings with President Kuchma, Prime Minister Marchuk, Foreign Minister Hennadiy Udovenko, National Bank Governor Viktor Yushchenko and Parliament Chairman Oleksander Moroz, Mr. Major also took time out for a tour of the city center. Guided by Kyiv Mayor Leonid Kosakivsky, the prime minister's stops included the Bessarabsky Market, where he tasted home-grown Ukrainian pickles and was greeted by local residents with bouquets of flowers.

Late in the evening, Mr. Major left for Moscow, where he was to take part in the G-7 summit on nuclear safety.

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