The Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office, Werner Hoyer, left today for Kiev where he will represent the German Government on Thursday (25 February) at the inauguration of the new Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.

While in Kiev, Minister of State Hoyer will also meet with the two presidential candidates Sergey Tigipko and Arseniy Yatsenyuk as well as former First Vice-Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and others. Talks will focus on bilateral issues and aspects of European cooperation. Additional topics such as Ukraine’s domestic development, necessary economic reforms and Ukraine’s cooperation with the International Monetary Fund will also be on the agenda.

Before departing, Minister of State Hoyer issued the following statement in Berlin:

”Ukraine has secured a clear election result through free and fair elections. I welcome President Yanukovych’s announcement that his first trip abroad will be to Brussels.

Ukraine is facing major economic and financial challenges. To master these challenges, the country needs effective leadership and political stability. And we need Ukraine as a reliable partner – not just on trade matters, but also on political issues.

That is why I am travelling to Kiev today, to underscore again that if Ukraine resolutely continues its path of reform, Kiev can count on active support from Germany and Europe.“

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