Yanukovych to visit U.S. on December 3-7 (11/26/06)

Yanukovych to visit U.S. on December 3-7

by Zenon Zawada
Kyiv Press Bureau

KYIV - Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych will visit the United States between December 3 and 7, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor told Dyelo, Kyiv's Russian-language daily business newspaper.

Mr. Yanukovych is scheduled to meet with Vice-President Dick Cheney but won't have time to meet with U.S. President George W. Bush, Mr. Taylor said, explaining that foreign prime ministers meet with the vice-president as part of U.S. government protocol.

"Firstly, Washington officials will be interested in Ukraine's success in preparing for World Trade Organization entry," Mr. Taylor told Dyelo in an article published on November 21.

Vice-President Cheney will discuss with Mr. Yanukovych developing the Black Sea shelf, a matter he is particularly interested in, said Ambassador Taylor.

He also said U.S. officials are particularly alarmed by Ukraine's introduction of restrictions on grain exports. If the problem isn't resolved by December, it will receive particular attention during the visit, Ambassador Taylor added.

U.S. officials will also discuss Ukraine's prospects for joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), said the U.S. envoy.

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