Bilateral cooperation between Ukraine and the Republic of Albania
Diplomatic relations between Ukraine and the Republic of Albania were established on January 13, 1993.
On June 16, 2015, the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Albania was opened in Kharkiv. Honorary consul - Shachin Omarov.
On June 20, 2018, the Agreement on the functions and duties of the Honorary Consul of Ukraine in the city of Tirana was concluded with the citizen of the Republic of Albania Bledi Bajraktari.
On July 2, 2020, the newly appointed Chargé d'affaires of the Republic of Albania in Ukraine Fation Peni handed over a diplomatic note from the Albanian side on the opening of a diplomatic mission of Albania in Ukraine. In September 2021, the a Head of the Albanian diplomatic mission in Ukraine - Adhurim Resuli - was appointed.
On September 1, 2020, Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Albania Volodymyr Shkurov presented credentials to the President of the Republic of Albania Ilir Meta.
Political dialogue
Contacts at the level of presidents: there were none
On September 11, 2020, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a telephone conversation with Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania Edi Rama.
On March 5, 2022, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a telephone conversation with Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania Edi Rama.
On May 3, 2022, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the Parliament of the Republic of Albania.
June 15, 2022 - President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama and Prime Minister of Montenegro Dimitar Abazovych during their joint visit to Ukraine.
Contacts at the level of heads of parliaments:
July 1, 2011 – bilateral meeting of the Speaker of the Parliament of Albania Jozefina Topalli with the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Lytvyn during the summit of the BSEC Parliamentary Assembly (Kyiv)
Contacts at the level of heads of government:
January 19-21, 2020 – the working visit of the Acting Chairman of the OSCE, Prime Minister and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania Edi Rama to Ukraine. Meeting with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Vadym Prystaiko and Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Honcharuk.
June 15, 2022 - Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal met with Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama and Prime Minister of Montenegro Dimitar Abazovych during their joint visit to Ukraine.
Contacts at the level of heads of foreign policy departments:
November 4, 2016 – the official visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin to Albania (negotiations with the President of Albania Bujar Nishani, the Speaker of the Parliament Illir Meta and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Albania Dimitri Bushati).
February 21-23, 2018 – the official visit of the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania Dimitri Bushati to Ukraine.
June 3, 2021 – a telephone conversation between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba and the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania Olta Xhacka.
On May 14, 2022 - the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba held a meeting with the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania Olta Xhacka (Berlin).
Bilateral bodies of the highest level: The Intergovernmental Ukrainian-Albanian Commission is in the process of determining the terms of the constituent meeting.
Interparliamentary cooperation:
On December 5, 2019, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine created a Deputies' Group on Interparliamentary Relations with the Republic of Albania, consisting of 6 people (group leader Ihor Vasyliv, Faction of the Political Party "Servant of the People").
In the new composition of the Albanian Parliament, following the results of the elections on April 25, 2021, the formation of a group on interparliamentary relations with Ukraine is expected.
Contractual legal base:
Number of valid documents: 15
Key documents: Joint communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and the Republic of Albania, Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of Albania on the mutual cancellation of visas, Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of Albania on the promotion and mutual protection of investments.
The basic agreement on friendship and cooperation between Ukraine and the Republic of Albania is in the final stage of preparation for signing.
Trade and economic cooperation
According to the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, in 2020, the volume of trade in goods and services between Ukraine and Albania amounted to 41.0 million dollars. USA (increased by 44.9%).
In 2021, the volume of trade in goods and services between Ukraine and Albania amounted to 51.37 million dollars. USA (increased by 25.4%). At the same time, the export of Ukrainian goods and services to Albania amounted to 39.5 million dollars. USA and increased by 25.8%. Import of goods and services from Albania to Ukraine amounted to 11.8 million dollars. USA, which is 24.1% more than in 2020. The balance of trade with Albania is positive for Ukraine and amounts to 27.6 million dollars. USA.
In the structure of exports of Ukrainian goods to Albania dominate: ferrous metals (32.3%); fats and oils of animal or vegetable origin (24.1%); grain crops (14.6%); wood and wood products (4.9%); milk, dairy products, poultry eggs, natural honey (3.4%); nuclear reactors, boilers, machines (2.7%); seeds and products of oil plants (2.5%), etc.
The structure of imports from Albania is dominated by deliveries of: vegetables (40.9%); ferrous metals (12.1%); mineral fuel; oil and products of its distillation (23.0%); ferrous metal products (14.6%); shoes (7.5%); clothing and accessories for clothing, knitwear (2.5%); edible fruits and nuts (2.4%); seeds and fruits of oil plants (2.2%).
Cultural and humanitarian cooperation between Ukraine and the Republic of Albania
The development of cultural and humanitarian cooperation between Ukraine and the Republic of Albania is based on the provisions of the Agreement on Cooperation between the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Albania dated May 27, 2003.
As of today, work is underway on the updated draft of the agreement and the signing of the interdepartmental Program.
2022
May 12, 2022 Head of the Kharkiv Regional Council Tetyana Yehorova-Lutsenko signed the Memorandum of Understanding, Friendship and Cooperation between the Kharkiv Regional Council of Ukraine and the Fier Prefecture of the Republic of Albania in frames of a visit to the Republic of Albania.
On July 7, 2022, during the meeting of the local councils of Tirana and Kharkiv, with the participation of mayors Erion Veliai and Igor Terekhov (online), the Tirana city council made a decision on the post-war reconstruction of one of the schools in the city of Kharkiv.
As of today, the Embassy is working on opening of Ukrainian book shelf in the National Library of Albania.
Work is underway to introduce a Ukrainian-language audio guide at the National Museum of Medieval Art in Korcha.
2020-2021
The development of cooperation in the archival sphere has been initiated. The draft Agreement between the State Archives Service of Ukraine and the Central Archives of the Republic of Albania was approved by the Albanian side and it was agreed to sign the said Agreement as part of the exchange of high-level visits.
On June 21-23, 2021, as part of the visit of the delegation of the National Aviation University, two cooperation agreements were signed with the Mediterranean University of Albania and the Polytechnic University of Tirana.
Work continues on the conclusion of the Protocol on cooperation between Kyiv National University named after T. Shevchenko and Tirana State University, as well as the initiation of the practice of student and teacher exchange, teaching Ukrainian and Albanian languages at Kyiv and Tirana universities.
The establishment of cooperation between the national scientific academies of Ukraine and the Republic of Albania and the National Library named after I. Vernadskyi with the National Library of Albania has been initiated.
As part of the development of twinning relations between the cities of Kharkiv and Tirana, on May 14, 2021 representatives of the Kharkiv City Council met with the Vice-Mayor of Tirana, Anuela Ristani. During the meeting, in particular, they discussed the possibility of erecting a monument to Taras Shevchenko in Tirana (in Kharkiv - to Mother Teresa). They also agreed on joint measures in the field of youth policy. In frames of the visit, an Agreement on cooperation was also signed between the I-III grade school N5 in Kharkiv and the gymnasium "Sami Frasheri" in Tirana.
On October 26, 2021 the mayor of Kyiv, Vitalii Klitschko, and the mayor of the capital of Albania, Tirana, Erion Veliai, signed a memorandum on the establishment of friendly relations between the cities.
Albanian diaspora in Ukraine
The total number of the Albanian diaspora in Ukraine is about 3,500 people, most of whom live in four settlements: Karakurt (Odesa region), Hamivka, Georgiivka and Divnynske (Zaporizhzhia region). According to the 2001 census of Ukraine, Albanians lived in 24 regions of Ukraine.
Bilateral relations between Ukraine and Armenia
Political dialogue:
Recognition of Ukraine: 18.12.1991
Establishment of diplomatic relations: December 25, 1991.
Diplomatic institutions: Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Armenia, honorary consulates of Ukraine in Gyumri and Vanadzor.
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Ukraine, Consulate General in Odessa, Honorary Consulates of Armenia in Kharkiv, Ternopil and Cherkassy.
Recent contacts:
March 22, 2019 – political consultations at the level of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine V. Bodnar and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Sh. Kocharyan (Kyiv).
05.20.2019 – meeting of the President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyi and the Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia T. Avinyan (Kyiv).
22.11.2019 – meeting of Prime Minister O. Honcharuk with President of Armenia A. Sarkisian within the framework of the first Investment Summit of the Eastern Partnership under the auspices of the EBRD.
04/30/2020 – telephone conversation between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine D. Kuleba and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Z. Mnatsakanyan.
March 26, 2020 – political consultations at the level of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine V. Bodnar and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Sh. Kocharyan (in online format).
High-level bilateral bodies:
Joint intergovernmental Ukrainian-Armenian commission on economic cooperation (the last, 8th meeting of the SMC took place on September 14, 2021 in Yerevan).
Contractual and legal basis
The contractual and legal base of bilateral relations consists of 59 international agreements (2 – interstate, 29 – intergovernmental, 23 – interdepartmental), of which 59 are valid, and another 20 documents regulating relations and cooperation, including at the regional level, between various state institutions. 7 international treaties have lost their validity, one more was not ratified by the Ukrainian side due to the loss of relevance.
Economy
The turnover of goods between Ukraine and the Republic of Armenia for 2021 amounted to 159.9 million dollars. USA and increased by 24%.
Ukrainian exports to Armenia amounted to $135.46 million and increased by 19.47%.
Armenian imports to Ukraine amounted to $13.48 million and increased by 35.29%.
The balance of trade in goods and services for Ukraine is positive - $111.99 million.
The turnover of goods between Ukraine and the Republic of Armenia for January-May 2022 amounted to $33.21 million and decreased by 27.7%.
Ukrainian exports to Armenia amounted to $29.01 million and decreased by 26.5%.
Armenian imports to Ukraine amounted to $4.1 million and decreased by 46.4%.
The balance of trade in goods and services for Ukraine is positive - $24.81 million.
It is worth noting that the resumption of two-way trade in the near future is unlikely given the fact that it was carried out by sea - the port of Chornomorsk - the ports of Georgia.
POLITICAL RELATIONS BETWEEN UKRAINE AND AZERBAIJAN
Establishment of diplomatic relations: February 6, 1992
Diplomatic Missions: Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Azerbaijan (since May 1996), Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Ukraine (since March 1997).
2020 year:
January 22 – a meeting of President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyy with President of SOCAR R. Abdullayev within the framework of the annual World Economic Forum (Davos);
January 30 – a meeting of Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine I. Zhovkva with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Kh. Khalafov;
February 6-11 – the participation of Head of the Permanent Delegation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, People's Deputy of Ukraine A. Gerasymov, in the work of the observation mission for the elections of Deputies of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, which took place on February 9, 2020.
Besides, the following Deputies of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine also became international observers in the extraordinary elections of Deputies of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan: co-chairs of the parliamentary group of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on inter-parliamentary relations with the Republic of Azerbaijan V. Kolyukh and V. Kreidenko, as well as People's Deputies of Ukraine L. Marchenko, M. Zablotskyi and S. Yurash.
On March 23, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine congratulated S. Gafarova on the occasion of her appointment as the Chairman of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan and expressed hope for further joint cooperation in the context of development of inter-parliamentary cooperation between the two states.
March 26 – a telephone conversation between President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyy and President of the Republic of Azerbaijan I. Aliyev.
March 27 – a telephone conversation between heads of government of the two states D. Shmyhal and A. Asadov.
April 23 – a telephone conversation between Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine D. Kuleba and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan E. Mamedyarov.
May 22 – a telephone conversation between Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine D. Kuleba and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan E. Mamedyarov.
May 27 – a telephone conversation between President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyy and President of the Republic of Azerbaijan I. Aliyev.
May 29 – President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyy accepted credentials from the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Ukraine E. Akhundova.
June 24 – a telephone conversation between Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine D. Kuleba and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan E. Mamedyarov.
July 17 – a telephone conversation between Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine D.Kuleba and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan J. Bayramov.
August 20 – a meeting (in video format) between representatives of the Deputy Group of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on inter-parliamentary relations with the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Working Group on inter-parliamentary relations between Azerbaijan and Ukraine.
September 22 – a telephone conversation between President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyy and President of the Republic of Azerbaijan I. Aliyev.
September 28 – a telephone conversation between Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine D. Kuleba and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan J. Bayramov.
October 22 – a meeting (via video conference) of Minister of Finance of Ukraine S. Marchenko with Minister of Finance of the Republic of Azerbaijan S. Sharifov.
2021 year:
February 23-24 – a working visit of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine V. Bodnar to the Republic of Azerbaijan.
April 13-14 – a working visit of the government delegation of Ukraine headed by Vice-Prime Minister – Minister of Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine O. Reznikov to the Republic of Azerbaijan.
April 22 – online consultations between Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine I. Zhovkva and Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan-Head of the Department of Foreign Policy Affairs of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan H. Hajiyev.
May 27 – a telephone conversation between Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine D. Kuleba and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan J. Bayramov.
June 17 – a telephone conversation between Prime Minister of Ukraine D. Shmyhal and Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan A. Asadov.
June 24-25 – a visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan of Ukrainian entrepreneurs led by President of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry G.Chyzhykov.
October 22 – a visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan of Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Service of Ukraine R. Cherkasskyi.
October 27 – a telephone conversation between Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine A. Yermak and Head of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan S. Nuriyev.
November 26 – a telephone conversation between Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine A. Yermak and Head of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan S. Nuriyev.
December 15 – a meeting between President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyy and President of the Republic of Azerbaijan I. Aliyev within the framework of the 6th Eastern Partnership Summit (Brussels).
December 24 – a telephone conversation between President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyy and President of the Republic of Azerbaijan I. Aliyev.
2022 year:
January 14 – a working visit of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan I. Aliyev to Ukraine.
January 25 – a telephone conversation between President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyy and President of the Republic of Azerbaijan I. Aliyev.
February 4 – a telephone conversation between Prime Minister of Ukraine D. Shmyhal and Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan A. Asadov.
February 26 – a telephone conversation between President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyy and President of the Republic of Azerbaijan I. Aliyev.
March 28 – a telephone conversation between President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyy and President of the Republic of Azerbaijan I. Aliyev.
TRADE AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION BETWEEN UKRAINE AND AZERBAIJAN
Ukraine - Azerbaijan: trade (goods and services 2017-2021)
(according to the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, million USD)
|
|
2017 |
% |
2018 |
% |
2019 |
% |
2020 |
% |
2021 |
% |
|
TOTAL |
803,7 |
↑250,7 |
853,6 |
↑6,2 |
825,4 |
↓3,4 |
717,2 |
↓13,2 |
1082 |
↑62 |
|
Export |
381,0 |
↑38,0 |
381,0 |
0,0 |
433,3 |
↑13,7 |
370,3 |
↓14,3 |
395 |
↑13 |
|
Import |
422,6 |
↑849,6 |
472,6 |
↑11,8 |
392,1 |
↓17,3 |
346,9 |
↓11,5 |
687 |
↑115% |
|
Balance |
-41,6 |
– |
-91,6 |
– |
+41,2 |
– |
+23,4 |
- |
-292 |
|
ECONOMIC COOPERATION BETWEEN UKRAINE AND AZERBAIJAN
Azerbaijan is the main economic partner of Ukraine in the South Caucasus region, the importance of which is enhanced by the urgent needs for the supply of energy carriers to Europe and the development of West-East transport corridors.
The priority areas of cooperation are as follows: energy, transport and agro-industrial spheres, involvement of investments and participation of Azerbaijani companies in the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. Due to the development of bilateral economic cooperation in the previous period, the strategic task of completely replacing Russian oil with Azerbaijani oil in Ukraine's energy balance was solved.
In the period of 2020-2021, the development of economic cooperation with the Republic of Azerbaijan was marked by key agreements reached as a result of the official visit of President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyy to the Republic of Azerbaijan (December 16-17, 2020). It was focused on implementation of investment projects in Ukraine in the spheres of energy, transport and telecommunication infrastructure, as well as the development of cooperation in the fields of chemical industry, agro-industrial complex and food security.
The agreements reached between President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyy and President of the Republic of Azerbaijan I. Aliyev during the visit paid by the Azerbaijani leader to Ukraine on 14.01.2022 marked a new stage in the development of the Strategic Partnership, determining priority areas of cooperation for the near future - implementation of joint projects in the field of trade, transportation, infrastructure, energy and energy security, agriculture and food security, mutual investments, tourism development.
The visit to Ukraine of a delegation led by Minister of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan M. Jabbarov (December 23, 2021), during which joint projects were proposed to the Azerbaijani side, was of significant importance for providing additional impetus to bilateral economic cooperation and creating appropriate conditions for the implementation of large-scale investment projects in Ukraine.
In 2021, bilateral trade volumes exceeded $1 billion ($1,082 million, ↑62%: export - $395 million (↑13%); import - $687 million (↑115%), balance $-292 million. Specific weight of main commodity items: export - agricultural products 47.3%, chemical industry 15.2%, woodworking industry - 13.2%, metallurgy - 13.0%, mechanical engineering - 9.6%, other - 1.3%; import - chemical industry - 90 .5%, agricultural industry - 4.0%, engineering - 2.8%, textile industry - 0.9%, metallurgy - 0.9%, other - 0.4%).
In the beginning of 2022 further qualitative growth and expansion of the nomenclature of Ukrainian exports was kept. The indicators of the 4 months (January-April) of 2022 maintained the dynamics of 2021. However, the May indicators reflected the breakdown of logistics chains due to the impossibility of cargo transportation through the Black Sea and rail transport, as well as the cessation of supply of Azerbaijani oil to the destroyed Kremenchug Refinery.
The key role at the intergovernmental level is played by the Joint Ukrainian-Azerbaijani Intergovernmental Commission (JIC), which coordinates the interaction of the governmental bodies of the two countries and forms the economic agenda of negotiations. The 12th JIC regular meeting was held in Kyiv on January 30-31, 2020.
During the visit of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan I. Aliyev (January 14,2022), it was agreed to hold the 13th JIC meeting in March 2022 in Baku, but due to the Russian invasion, it has been postponed.
The meetings of the JIC structural bodies play a significant role in concretizing cooperation in specified areas: on April 7, 2021 a mixed JIC experts was held; 04.09.2021 - joint meeting of the Working Group on cooperation in agriculture; 04.14.2021 audit of the current implementation of the decisions of the 12th JIC meeting with the participation of the JIC co-chairs; 05.17.2021 - joint meeting of the Working Group on privatization issues; 06.17.2021 - 5th joint meeting of the Working Group on Energy.
During 2020-2021 the strengthening of cooperation between the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan was ensured. The Azerbaijani side confirmed the importance of using Ukrainian agricultural technologies in the fields of selection and cultivation of hard/soft varieties of Ukrainian wheat with adaptation to local arid regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as in the field of compound feed production for Azerbaijani livestock. Opportunities to intensify cooperation in the field of veterinary medicine arouse considerable interest in Azerbaijan.
In June 2021, the Ukrainian-Azerbaijani Business Council was established and started in the format of public-private partnership. The main goal of the Business Council is implementation of targeted projects and creation of joint ventures in identified priority areas of economic cooperation (agro-industry, metallurgy, mechanical engineering, chemical industry, IT technologies, logistics, tourism).
Within the framework of this format of cooperation, four business missions of Ukraine were held from June to December 2021, aimed in participation of Ukrainian companies in restoring and developing infrastructure of de-occupied regions of Azerbaijan as well as development of partnership and investment projects in Ukraine.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine plays a significant role in the development of projects in Azerbaijan with the participation of Ukrainian companies, a representative of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry is located in Azerbaijan, who also interacts in the economic direction with the structure of the Honorary Consulate of Ukraine in Shamakhi.
The Trade House Ukraine in Azerbaijan (THU) plays an important role in assisting to increase the volume of exports and investments in Ukraine. In particular, THU invested $5 million in the creation of the logistics center "Gyuzdek Terminal" to provide Ukrainian and Azerbaijani companies with a wide range of logistics services for the implementation of foreign economic transactions between the two countries.
As of the beginning of 2022, 143 companies with Azerbaijani capital were operating in Ukraine. The total amount of investments exceeded 1 billion USD. Sectoral structure of Azerbaijani investments: wholesale and retail trade - 84%; construction - 7.5%; industry - 4.7%; transactions with real estate - 1.5%; professional, scientific and technical activities - 0.7%.
Since 2013, a large-scale investment project for the development of the Ukrainian gas station network under the SOCAR brand has been implemented in Ukraine. As of 2022, over $300 million has been invested, 58 complex gas stations are operating. It should be noted that after the beginning of the Russian invasion, SOCAR provided free fuel for Ukrainian emergency services.
There are 212 companies with Ukrainian capital operating in Azerbaijan, whose activities are mainly concentrated in the fields of mechanical engineering, chemical industry, construction and design, trade, transport, information technology and engineering.
INTERREGIONAL COOPERATION
BETWEEN UKRAINE AND THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN
The establishment of cooperation at the level of regions of Ukraine and Azerbaijan, which will also allow covering small and medium-sized businesses has a significant potential for the deepening of trade and economic cooperation, the development of tourism, cultural and humanitarian ties.
The current legal basis of bilateral relations in regional cooperation area is as follows:
International exhibitions and conferences in the Republic of Azerbaijan
|
City and country of the exhibition event |
Name of the exhibition event |
Term of the exhibition event |
Organizer of the exhibition event |
Specialization of the exhibition event |
|
Azerbaijan |
|
|
|
|
|
Baku Baku ExpoCenter |
13th International Exhibition for Internal Security, Safety and Rescue Equipment |
6-8 September 2022 |
CASPIAN EVENT ORGANISERS LLC (CEO) Nobel Avenue 15, 7th floor, Azure Business Center, Baku, Azerbaijan Emilia Aliyeva project manager Т: +994 12 4041000
Т: +994 12 4041046 Ф: +994 12 4041001 |
Police equipment. Systems, means and equipment for security borders. Emergency rescue equipment. Fire Security. Cyber security and information protection. Access restriction system. Forensic equipment. Systems and means of combating terrorist threats. Individual protection. Security services. |
|
Baku Baku ExpoCenter |
4th Azerbaijan International Defence Exhibition (ADEX) |
6-8 September 2022 |
CASPIAN EVENT ORGANISERS LLC (CEO) Nobel Avenue 15, 7th floor, Azure Business Center, Baku, Azerbaijan Bahruz GIDAYATZADE project manager Т: +994 12 4041000 Fax: +994 12 4041001 Orkhan Akhmedov project manager Т: +994 12 4041000 T: +994 12 4041044 Fax: +994 12 4041001 |
Emergency rescue equipment. Unmanned systems. Military organizations, associations, educational institutions. Military radio-electronic systems, C4ISR. Armament and equipment of the ground forces. Ships and naval systems. Weapons and ammunition. Optical and electronic equipment and systems. Radar systems. Simulators and training systems. Air and space defense systems. Machinery and equipment of railway troops. Technologies and equipment for the production, repair and disposal of weapons. |
|
Baku Baku ExpoCenter |
14th Azerbaijan International Education Exhibition |
6-8 October 2022 |
CASPIAN EVENT ORGANISERS LLC (CEO) Nobel Avenue 15, 7th floor, Azure Business Center, Azerbaijan, Baku project manager Iryna BABAEVA: Т: +994 12 4474774 Т: +994 12 4041038 M: +994 55 4000578 Fax: +994 12 4041001 |
Higher Education. Master's degree, MBA, postgraduate studies, doctoral studies. Programs for study abroad and student exchange. Pre-school education. Secondary education. Vocational and secondary special education. Language courses, summer schools, trainings. Trends in education / information technologies in the field of education. Educational literature, methodical manuals. Furniture and equipment in the education sector (educational equipment, laboratories). |
|
Baku Baku ExpoCenter |
26th Azerbaijan International Construction Exhibition |
20-22 October 2021 |
CASPIAN EVENT ORGANISERS LLC (CEO) Nobel Avenue 15, 7th floor, Azure Business Center, Baku, Azerbaijan Rashad GADIMOV, project director: +994 12 4041000 T: +994 12 4041040 M: +994 77 2777040 E: [email protected] |
Building materials. Plumbing. Roofing and insulation. Interior. Landscape architecture and design. |
|
Baku Baku ExpoCenter |
26th Azerbaijan International Telecommunications, Innovations and High Technologies Exhibition www.bakutel.az |
1-3 December 2022 |
CASPIAN EVENT ORGANISERS LLC (CEO) Nobel Avenue 15, 7th floor, Azure Business Center, Baku, Azerbaijan Fazilya Nakhmetova, project manager Т: +994 12 4041047 M: +994 55 4000577 Fax: +994 12 4041001 |
Audio / Video services. Banking technologies. Massive data and business analytics. Management of business processes. Telecommunications and networks. Cloud technologies. Smart devices and accessories. Digital business solutions. Data center and infrastructure. IT services. Internet of things and M2M. Research and innovation. Robotics. Cyber security. Systems of satellite communication. TV and radio. |
‘Trade House Ukraine’ in the Republic of Azerbaijan
The significant role of Azerbaijan in the Caspian-Black Sea region creates prerequisites for a rational strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Ukraine, including in the trade and economic spheres.
The idea to crate the Trade House of Ukraine in Azerbaijan, as well as the Trade House of Azerbaijan in Ukraine, was initiated by the Presidents of Ukraine and Azerbaijan in July 2016.
In the years that followed, ways to implement this process were actively discussed during the meetings of the Economy Ministers of both countries.
The practical outcome of the negotiations was the opening of the ‘Trade House Ukraine’ in Azerbaijan during the official visit of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the Azerbaijan Republic in December 2019.
‘Trade House Ukraine’ LLC is an integrated trade and economic platform with the functions of a complex logistics center designed to optimize and increase the volume of trade and investment flow between Ukraine and Azerbaijan.
The main areas of activity are foreign trade, creation of internal trade networks and distribution, development of efficient transport and logistics chains, tourism, financial audit and consulting. This implies assistance and consultant supervision of Ukrainian commercial and industrial entities in their relations with Azerbaijani counter – partners, their cooperation and production cooperation.
Doctor of Economics Alibala Maharramzada is the General Director of the ‘Trade House Ukraine’.
The co-founder of the THU is the "Ukrainian Congress of Azerbaijan" Public Organization represented by the Chairman of the Board Yuriy Osadchenko.
The main office of the ‘Trade House Ukraine’, with an area of about 1000 square meters, is located in one of the central districts of Baku city.
The chain of Ukrainian products stores and Ukrainian cuisine restaurants are being operated under the aegis of the Trade House Ukraine.
Since the first quarter of 2019, the ‘Trade House Ukraine’ has been implementing a new large-scale project – the "Guzdek Terminal" Integrated Logistics Center. This is a modern complex for the transportation and storage of industrial goods and food products, located at the intersection of the largest international logistics arteries of Azerbaijan - in Guzdek settlement which locally borders with major cities such as Baku and Sumgayit, and the railway station in Khirdalan.
The new complex will provide ultra-modern technological storage of industrial goods and food products, their shipment and transportation, both from Azerbaijan to Ukraine and in the opposite direction. The industrial and production area of the complex makes 3 hectares. The "Guzdek Terminal" Integrated Logistics Center includes 8 dry barns with a total area of 4,392 square meters, 5 cold rooms with an area of 1,350 square meters, operating in the mode up to minus 27 degrees, 5 cold rooms with an area of 1,350 square meters, providing a temperature range from plus 7 to minus 5. Depending on the specifics of the stored goods, cold storage chambers can take from 3 to 4 thousand tons of products. The terminal also includes administrative offices with an area of 312 square meters, and a cozy motel with a restaurant.
In addition to economic business projects, implemented under the aegis of the ‘Trade House Ukraine’ are joint socio-economic projects that contribute to the expansion of bilateral business and, most importantly, cultural relations between Azerbaijan and Ukraine, as well as the convergence of the peoples of the two countries.
Trade network of branded Ukrainian products "Ukrayna Mahsulları"
("Ukrainian products")
The idea of opening the "Ukrainian Products" stores in Azerbaijan was based on the traditionally high demand for Ukrainian food among Azerbaijani consumers.
The "Ukrainian Products" was established in March 2017. In June and September 2017, the first two stores were opened in Baku on the basis of a contract concluded with the Ukrainian company LLC "RBK Atlantis Group" (Dnipro) on supply of meat and dairy products to Azerbaijan.
In 2018, with the assistance of the Embassy in establishing direct contacts with leading enterprises in food industry of Ukraine, the number of stores in Baku amounted to 12 retail units. At the same time, the range of products was expanded up to more than 50 product items.
At the first stage of the development of the "Ukrainian products" project in Azerbaijan, in addition to the key economic task of increasing the volume of domestic exports, its key role was to popularize Ukraine in Azerbaijan as a country producing quality products. In particular, the main suppliers of Ukrainian products to the specified network were: Meat processing factory "Alan", "Milk Alliance", TM "Dubravski sausages", Prydniprovsky plant "Zlagoda", LLC "Kyiv BKK", PJSC "Kyiv Margarine Plant OLKOM" ", PJSC "Ichnyan milk canning plant "IMKK", LLC "KAMA" Juices of Ukraine", TM "Karpatska Dzherelna", CJSC "Novgorod-Siversky cheese plant", Lviv confectionery factory "Svitoch", Transcarpathian FG "World of Meat".
In 2020, the "Ukrainian Products" management signed an agreement on partnership relations with "Trading House Ukraine" LLC in Azerbaijan (THU). With the assistance of THU, the trade infrastructure and financial and economic management of the network were improved. As a result, a further increase in sales volume and product range of leading Ukrainian companies on the Azerbaijani market was ensured.
On December 17, 2019, with the participation of President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyy during his official visit paid to Azerbaijan, the retail network central store with an area of 600 m2 was opened, which also includes a department for the sale of consumer goods and a coffee shop.
As of the beginning of 2022, under the auspices of THU, the trade network consisted of 10 stores in the capital of Azerbaijan, the volume of sales was about 500 tons of products per year with a total cost of $600,000. More than 100 product items are offered. Currently, measures are being taken to open 5 more stores in Baku and the first store outside the capital, in the central area of the city of Ganja - the second largest city in Azerbaijan in economic potential.
The purchase of products in Ukraine is carried out, as a rule, on the basis of direct established contacts with manufacturing enterprises in Ukraine and preliminary approval of veterinary and phytosanitary export certificates of the products. During the development of the project, the form of concessional cooperation with some leading Azerbaijani foreign trade companies and trade networks of the city of Baku is also used. The logistics component involves the transportation of products to the seaports of Ukraine and further by ferry to Georgia and the final destination in Azerbaijan.
Currently, the network of food stores "Ukrainian products" not only promotes the promotion of Ukrainian products among consumers, but also an effective advertising component among a wide range of potential Azerbaijani companies importing Ukrainian food products.
Information on the peculiarities of the procedure
for state procurement of food products in the Republic of Azerbaijan
According to Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan No. 158-VQD dated March 04, 2016 "On Amendments to the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On State Procurement", the procurement of food products (with the exception of wheat, which is purchased for the State Grain Fund) is carried out in a centralized manner.
The centralized procedure for state procurement of food products is carried out by state enterprises and organizations at state expense, in accordance with Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan No. 859 dated April 11, 2016.
State procurement of food products is carried out in order to ensure the food needs of state enterprises and organizations of Azerbaijan. Relevant trade operations are carried out by JSC "Agrarian Supplies", which is subordinate to the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Announcements about tenders, which are held for the purpose of procuring food and other products for the needs of state enterprises and organizations of Azerbaijan, are posted on the web portal
https://etender.gov.az/procurement-plan
LEGAL FRAMEWORK OF BILATERAL RELATIONS
The existing legal framework of bilateral relations corresponds to the strategic partnership between Ukraine and the Republic of Azerbaijan.
As of January 2022, 148 international agreements were signed between Ukraine and the Republic of Azerbaijan, including: 65 – interstate and intergovernmental, 47 – interagency, 14 – political and 20 other documents.
The basic political documents between Ukraine and the Republic of Azerbaijan are the Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation dated December 09, 1992 and the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership dated March 16, 2000, which determine the main directions, forms and methods of cooperation between the states. The Declaration on friendship and strategic partnership between Ukraine and the Republic of Azerbaijan dated May 22, 2008 defines the level of cooperation between the states as strategic.
The key legal acts of Ukrainian-Azerbaijani relations are the following: Agreement on economic cooperation, Agreements on air transport, on cooperation in customs affairs, military-technical, scientific-technical cooperation, cooperation in the field of tourism, communication, on mutual recognition and equivalence of documents on education and academic titles, youth policy and sports, visa-free travel of citizens, principles of cooperation in the oil industry, cooperation in the field of culture and art, cooperation in the field of education, etc.
Bilateral documents signed in 2022
During the visit of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan I. Aliyev to Ukraine (January 14, 2022), the following bilateral documents were signed:
1. Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan on cooperation in the field of food safety.
2. Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine and the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan on issues of emergency cooperation in bilateral trade.
3. Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of energy between the Joint-Stock Company "National Joint-Stock Company "Naftogaz of Ukraine" and the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR).
4. Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation between the State Service of Ukraine for Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre and the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan regarding cooperation in the field of land relations, management of state-owned lands and the state land cadastre.
5. Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine and the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan regarding cooperation in the agricultural sphere.
6. Memorandum on cooperation between the State Institution "Investment Promotion Office" and the Agency for Small and Medium Business Development of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
CULTURAL AND HUMANITARIAN COOPERATION BETWEEN UKRAINE AND AZERBAIJAN
Cooperation in cultural and humanitarian sphere is determined by traditionally close ties between the peoples of the two countries and plays an important role as one of the factors in deepening relations of friendship, mutual understanding and cooperation between Ukraine and Azerbaijan.
The legal basis for ensuring the development of bilateral cooperation in this area is the Agreement on cooperation in the field of culture and art between the Ministry of Culture and Arts of Ukraine and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, concluded in 1997. In 2016, the parties signed the Cooperation Program in the field of culture and arts between the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2016-2020. This document envisages encouraging at the state level in both countries the development of cooperation between cultural and artistic institutions by: creating conditions for performances and tours of Ukrainian and Azerbaijani cultural and artistic public figures, music and dance groups; participation of specialists in the field of culture and art in international festivals, competitions, exhibitions, symposia, conferences, seminars and other cultural events to be held on the territory of Ukraine and Azerbaijan; exchange of art and photo exhibitions; exchange of experience in the field of protection, preservation and restoration of cultural heritage and historical monuments; cooperation in the field of museum and library affairs; promotion of direct contacts between actors, institutions of culture and art, as well as institutions responsible for the protection and preservation of cultural values; other forms of cooperation in the field of culture.
With respect to promoting the development of bilateral cooperation in this field, the Embassy of Ukraine maintains active contacts with leading museums of Azerbaijan, supports the participation of national artists in holding exhibition events, and interacts with the State Translation Center of Azerbaijan in the context of publication of works of Ukrainian literature in Azerbaijani language. Special attention is paid to implementation of joint cultural and artistic projects, expansion of ties between institutions and famous public figures of two countries in this field.
There is a number of monuments which were installed in honor of outstanding public figures of Ukraine, in particular: a bas-relief of Taras Shevchenko in the city of Zakatala (opened in 2007, on June 28, 2019, the monument was renovated on the initiative of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Azerbaijan), a bust of Lesya Ukrainka in the Karadaz district of Baku (2006), a monument of Taras Shevchenko in one of central districts of the capital of Azerbaijan (opened by the Presidents of Ukraine and Azerbaijan in 2008). Also, a memorial plaque was installed on one of the buildings in the center of the capital of Azerbaijan, where the Special Diplomatic Mission of the Ukrainian People's Republic was located in 1919-1920 (opened in 2009 during the official visit of the President of Ukraine to Azerbaijan).
Cooperation in the field of education demonstrates stable dynamics and it is one of the promising directions of interaction between Ukraine and the Republic of Azerbaijan, primarily due to the traditionally high interest of Azerbaijani youth in studying in Ukraine.
However, the armed aggression against Ukraine by the Russian Federation, as well as the occupation of part of the territory of our state, caused a certain outflow of Azerbaijani students from Ukraine: the number of citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan studying in Ukrainian universities is 4,628, which is the fourth highest among foreign students in Ukraine (1st place - India (18,095 people), 2nd - Morocco (8,832), 3rd - Turkmenistan (5,322), 5th - Nigeria (4,227) ).
The most popular areas of higher education for Ukrainian students in Azerbijan are related to finance and economics, law, medicine, and management. As of 2021-2022, 38 citizens of Ukraine studied in higher educational institutions of Azerbaijan.
In 2017 the delegation of the Ukrainian State Center of International Education of the Ministry of Education and Culture of Ukraine, led by the director of the Center O.O. Shapovalova, as well as the delegation of the Poltava National Technical University named after Yu. Kondratyuk (PNTU) led by the rector V.O. Onyshchenko took part at the international NET conference "New trends in the field of education. Baku-2017" and in the annual International Exhibition "Education" with the aim of presenting the advantages of higher education in Ukraine to Azerbaijani youth. The PNTU delegation signed agreements on cooperation with the Azerbaijan State University of Oil and Industry (ASUNP), as well as the Baku Higher Oil School. In 2018, PNTU signed an agreement with ADUNP on the joint training of bachelors under the double diploma program. In 2021, as a result of a meeting with the management of the Azerbaijan State University of Oil and Industry, as well as the Baku Drilling School, a tripartite Memorandum of Cooperation was concluded between the National University "Poltava Polytechnic named after Y. Kondratyuk" (Ukraine), LLC "Wellsite" Digital" (Ukraine) and "Baku Drilling School" (Republic of Azerbaijan) regarding the expansion of cooperation on the development of scientific and technical knowledge of specialists in the oil and gas industry, the issuance of international model certificates, the exchange of trainers and personnel, the holding of joint scientific events and research projects.
As part of the visit to Azerbaijan on July 8, 2019, the heads of the Institute of International Relations of Kyiv National University named after T. Shevchenko (KNU) and Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy (ADA) signed an Agreement on cooperation in the field of master's programs.
On November 30, 2021 the KNU delegation led by rector V. Bugrov had a meeting with representatives of the Ukrainian Center, during which the issues of mutual cooperation of the parties in the educational sphere, the implementation of joint projects for the exchange of students and professors, as well as popularization of Ukrainian education and language in Azerbaijan was discussed. As a result of the meeting the parties signed an Agreement on cooperation between KNU and the Ukrainian Center.
In September 2019 the Kharkiv National Law University named after Yaroslav Mudry and ADA University signed a Memorandum of Cooperation.
In April 2019, a delegation of the Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture visited the Republic of Azerbaijan, during which a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Azerbaijan University of Construction and Architecture, and the exchange of professors and students was discussed.
In November 2019 was concluded an agreement on cooperation between the National Aerospace University named after M. Zhukovsky ("KHAI") and the National Aviation Academy of Azerbaijan. On April 14, 2021, a Memorandum of Understanding between Odesa and Ganja State Agrarian Universities was signed in Ganja.
Up to date, the only institution that trains specialists in the Azerbaijan regardin studying of Ukrainian culture, literature, and history is Baku Slavic University (BSU), which cooperates with KNU, PNTU and Cherkasy Pedagogical University named after B. Khmelnytskyi. On October 27, 2020, with the assistance of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Azerbaijan, an Agreement on scientific, educational and cultural cooperation was signed between T. Shevchenko Kyiv National University and Nakhichevan State University.
There is Ukrainian Cultural and Educational Center, as well as the ensemble of Ukrainian song and dance called "Slovyanochka" at the premises of Baku Slavic University which operates with the support of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Since October 27, 2019, the Ukrainian Sunday school has been restored, which functions in the premises of the Ukrainian Cultural and Educational Center at BSU. Besides, since October 2019, the newly created Ukrainian cultural and educational center called "Dzherelo" and the Sunday school of the "Ukrainian community named after Ivan Franko in Sumgait" also started working in Sumgait.
Ukraine and Azerbaijan have long-standing and close ties in the field of sport, which currently continue to actively develop with the assistance and support of relevant state authorities of both countries.
In particular, with the aim of intensifying bilateral sports and youth exchanges in 2019, the Program of Cooperation in the Field of Physical Culture and Sports was signed between the relevant ministries of two countries for 2019-2020. As part of the implementation of this bilateral document, Ukrainian and Azerbaijani athletes regularly participate in international competitions , which are held in both countries.
In this regard, in 2017 was signed the Memorandum of Understanding in the field of sports between the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine and the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan by the President of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine S. Bubka and the Vice President of the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan Ch. Huseynzade. This document defines the directions of cooperation of the parties within the framework of the development of the Olympic movement.
Education in Ukraine for foreign citizens
Foreigners in Ukraine can obtain an education in Ukrainian or English languages, depending on the programs offered and the applicant's level of knowledge of the language. Foreign students have the opportunity to study in more than 240 higher educational institutions and obtain education in various specialties. Every year, higher educational institutions of Ukraine accept students from 150 countries.
Ukrainian higher educational institutions offer studies at three levels of higher education with obtaining of one of following degrees:
The first level of higher education:
- Junior bachelor;
- Bachelor.
The second level of higher education:
- Master's degree.
The third level of higher education:
- Doctor of Philosophy;
- PHD.
Ukrainian higher education institutions employ experienced teachers and professors who have a high level of professional training and make the educational process interesting and exciting, creating all the conditions for the scientific and creative development of students.
UKRAINIANS IN AZERBAIJAN
According to the population census conducted in the Republic of Azerbaijan in 2009 there are 21,500 ethnic Ukrainians living in Azerbaijan.
In 2017, with the support of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Azerbaijan, in the city of Sumgait (about 35 km from the city of Baku), was created a separate Ukrainian public organization "Ukrainian community named after Ivan Franko in the city of Sumgait" (registered by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Azerbaijan on October 31, 2017). The head of the Ukrainian community in the city of Sumgait is Tamila Musaeva, who is a citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan and an ethnic Ukrainian. The mentioned organization actively participates in all events organized by the Embassy in support of the territorial integrity of Ukraine and condemnation of Russia as an aggressor.
The website of the community is www.ukrdiaspora.az.
The activity of Azerbaijani Ukrainians is an important element of strengthening friendship and strategic partnership between Ukraine and Azerbaijan.
The Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Azerbaijan provides comprehensive assistance in development of Ukrainian national culture, language, traditions, and also provides support for strengthening the ties of Ukrainians of Azerbaijan with their historical Homeland.
Republic of Belarus
Diplomatic relations between Ukraine and the Republic of Belarus were established on December 27, 1991. The Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Belarus was opened on June 30, 1992, and the Embassy of Belarus in Ukraine on October 12, 1993.
Bilateral relations are regulated by the Treaty between Ukraine and the Republic of Belarus on friendship, good neighborliness and cooperation dated July 17, 1995, which entered into force on August 6, 1997.
On August 9, 2020, the Republic of Belarus held presidential elections that were not recognized by the international community and Ukraine. The presidential elections in Belarus were followed by mass protest rallies and large-scale persecution against their participants and the country's civil society as a whole. Political dialogue between Ukraine and Belarus has been suspended since then. On September 15, 2020, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted Resolution № 883-IX, which stated that the election of the President of the Republic of Belarus was neither free nor fair and took place in the complete absence of competition between candidates.
Ukraine has joined EU sanctions against 40 Belarusian officials involved in election fraud and the use of force against peaceful protesters.
During 2021, bilateral Ukrainian-Belarusian relations were further complicated. Political dialogue at high and higher levels remained "on pause". In November 2021, O. Lukashenko declared that "Crimea de facto and de jure has become Russian." In February 2022, Belarus actually supported the recognition of the "independence" of the so-called "LPR/DNR" by Russia, which thereby grossly violated international law, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
Since 24.02.2022 Belarus has become an accomplice in Russia’s full-scale military aggression against Ukraine. Lukashenko regime has allowed Moscow to use Belorussian territory as a ‘springboard’ for the large-scale military invasion in Ukraine. In particular, the territory of the Republic of Belarus is used to launch missiles, combat aircraft and helicopters that attack civilian population and military targets in Ukraine. Moreover Russian ground forces invaded Ukraine (Kyiv, Chernihiv regions) directly from Belarusian territory. The Russian Federation also uses the territory of Belarus for logistical support of the aggression.
Against the background of Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine and Belarus' complicity in the war, Ukrainian-Belarusian contacts in almost all spheres of bilateral cooperation were suspended.
Political relations between Ukraine and Bulgaria
History of bilateral relations
The Ukrainian and Bulgarian peoples are related not only by their Slavic origin, ethnic and linguistic proximity, but also by a common historical fate, centuries-old relations in religious, cultural, economic, social and political life. Ukrainians participated in the Polish-Hungarian army of King Wladyslaw in the battle near Varna against the Turks in 1444.
The spirit of Cossack freedom beckoned Bulgarians fleeing Turkish slavery to Zaporizhzhya Sich. In 1762, a Bulgarian hussar regiment was even created as part of the Zaporozhian army.
During the liberation of the Bulgarian people from Ottoman slavery in 1878, history inextricably linked the destinies of the two peoples in the battles for the freedom of the Bulgarian land.
Bulgaria also became one of the first countries to recognize the Ukrainian People's Republic in 1918, when both sides opened diplomatic missions.
Ukraine became the homeland of the world's largest Bulgarian diaspora. According to the 2001 population census, about 204,600 people of Bulgarian origin live on its territory.
Bulgaria was one of the first countries to respond to the restoration of Ukraine's independence and recognized Ukraine as an independent state on December 5, 1991, and established diplomatic relations with it on December 13 of the same year.
The foundations of good-neighborly Ukrainian-Bulgarian relations were laid in such an international legal document as the Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation between Ukraine and the Republic of Bulgaria, signed on October 5, 1992.
Bulgaria actively supports the course of European integration reforms and the agenda of the Ukraine-EU dialogue. It was the fourth EU member state to ratify the Association Agreement in 2014. New opportunities for the development of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries were provided by the introduction of a deep and comprehensive free trade zone with the EU.
Relations between Ukraine and the Republic of Bulgaria are dynamically developing in the spirit of trust, good neighborliness and strategic partnership within the framework of both bilateral and regional and international organizations, such as BSEC, CEI, OSCE, Council of Europe, UN. They are aimed at ensuring support and mutually beneficial cooperation and establishing security and stability in the Black Sea region. The parties are taking measures to deepen cooperation in the trade-economic, security, defense-industrial, educational, scientific and other spheres.
The Republic of Bulgaria supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, condemned the so-called "referendum" in Crimea in March 2014 and became a co-author of UN General Assembly resolutions "Territorial integrity of Ukraine" (2014) and "Situation with human rights in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol" (2014-2021), as well as on Russia's militarization of Crimea, the Black and Azov Seas (2018-2021). Bulgaria became a co-author and supported the resolutions of the UN General Assembly "Aggression against Ukraine" dated March 2, 2022 and "Humanitarian consequences of aggression against Ukraine" dated March 24, 2022.
The Republic of Bulgaria, as an EU member state, supports the EU's consolidated position regarding the sanctions regime against the Russian Federation due to the large-scale invasion of the territory of Ukraine. The leadership of the Republic of Bulgaria declares its support for the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and condemns the Kremlin's aggressive policy.
Political cooperation
At the level of heads of state
• An important stage in the establishment of bilateral relations was the official visit to Ukraine of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Zh.Zhelev on December 8-10, 1994.
• In March 1998, the President of Ukraine L. Kuchma paid an official visit to Bulgaria.
• On May 14-15, 1999, the President of the Republic of Bulgaria P. Stoyanov took part in the VI informal meeting of the heads of state of Central Europe in Lviv.
• On June 9-10, 1999, the head of the Bulgarian state P. Stoyanov visited Ukraine on an official visit.
• On September 10-11, 1999, the President of the Republic of Bulgaria P. Stoyanov took part in the Baltic-Black Sea Summit in Yalta.
• On September 4-5, 2001, the state visit of the President of Ukraine L. Kuchma to Bulgaria took place.
• On January 30 - February 1, 2003 - the official visit of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria H. Pirvanov to Ukraine.
• On January 28, 2005, the President of Ukraine V. Yushchenko met with the President of the Republic of Bulgaria H. Pirvanov as part of the solemn events dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the fascist concentration camp "Auschwitz-Birkenau" in Auschwitz.
• On May 19, 2006, the President of Ukraine V.Yushchenko met with the President of the Republic of Bulgaria H.Pyrvanov within the framework of participation in the 13th informal meeting of the heads of states of Central Europe in Varna.
• On December 1, 2010 - bilateral meeting of the President of Ukraine V. Yanukovych with the President of the Republic of Bulgaria H. Pirvanov within the framework of the OSCE Summit in Astana.
• On June 12, 2013 - bilateral meeting of the Presidents of Ukraine V. Yanukovych and Bulgaria R. Plevneliev within the framework of the 18th Summit of the Heads of the Central European States (Bratislava).
• On June 3, 2014 - bilateral meeting of the Presidents of Ukraine P. Poroshenko and R. Plevneliev of Bulgaria within the framework of the events on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of democratic transformations in Poland (Warsaw).
• On July 7-8, 2015 - official visit of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria R. Plevneliev to Ukraine.
• On April 26, 2016 - working visit to Ukraine by the President of the Republic of Bulgaria R. Plevneliev.
• On June 30, 2016 - the official visit of the President of Ukraine P.Poroshenko to the Republic of Bulgaria.
• On September 19, 2017 – bilateral meeting of the President of Ukraine P.O. Poroshenko with the President of the Republic of Bulgaria R. Radev within the framework of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly (New York).
• On May 10, 2018 – bilateral meeting of the President of Ukraine P. Poroshenko with Prime Minister B.Borisov in Aachen, Germany.
• On October 5, 2018 – joint working visit of the President of Ukraine P.Poroshenko and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria B. Borisov to Odesk region.
• On May 20, 2019 – meeting of the President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyi with the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria M. Nikolova as part of the inaugural events.
• On February 19, 2022 – the meeting of the President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyi with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria K. Petkov within the framework of participation in the 58th Munich Conference on Security Issues and the signing of the Joint Declaration on the support of the European perspective of Ukraine.
• On March 5, 2022 – telephone conversation between the President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyi and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria K. Petkov.
April 18, 2022 – telephone conversation between the President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyi and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria K. Petkov.
• On March 26, 2022 – telephone conversation between the President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyi and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria K. Petkov.
• On March 13, 2022 – telephone conversation between the President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyi and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria K. Petkov.
• On June 22, 2022 – telephone conversation between the President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyi and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria K. Petkov.
Interparliamentary relations
On November 28-30, 1995, the official visit to Ukraine of the Bulgarian parliamentary delegation led by the Speaker of the People's Assembly (Parliament) of the Republic of Bulgaria B. Sendov took place.
• On June 2-4, 2003, the Chairman of the People's Assembly of the Bulgaria O. Gerdzhikov was on an official visit to Ukraine.
• On January 26, 2004, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine V. Lytvyn paid an official visit to the Republic of Bulgaria.
• On September 7, 2005, within the framework of the 60th session of the UN General Assembly, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine V. Lytvyn met with the Chairman of the State Assembly of the Bulgaria H. Pyrynskyi.
• On September 13-14, 2010, the Chairman of the People's Assembly of the Bulgaria Ts. Tsacheva was on an official visit to Ukraine.
• On February 1, 2015, the Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, O. Syroid, during a working visit to the Republic of Bulgaria, held a meeting with the Speaker of the People's Assembly, Ts. Tsacheva.
• On April 5-6, 2022, People's Deputies of Ukraine Y. Mishina and E. Chernev visited Bulgaria.
• May 7-10, 2022 – visit to Bulgaria S. Chernyavskyi, People's Deputy of Ukraine.
• April 28-May 31, 2022 – visit to Bulgaria A. Kisse, People's Deputy of Ukraine.
• May 14-19, 2022 – visit to Bulgaria E. Bragar, People's Deputy of Ukraine.
At the level of heads of government
• On July 23-24, 1996, the Prime Minister of Ukraine P. Lazarenko paid an official visit to Bulgaria.
• On October 30-31, 1997, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria I. Kostov made an official visit to Ukraine.
• On July 28-29, 2000, the Prime Minister of Ukraine V. A. Yushchenko paid an official visit to Bulgaria.
• On May 21-24, 2004, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria S. Sakskoburggotsky visited Kyiv on an official visit.
• On January 14, 2009, talks between the Prime Minister of Ukraine Yu. Tymoshenko and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria S. Stanishev regarding the resolution of the gas conflict with Russia and ensuring gas transit to Europe took place in Kyiv.
On September 1, 2009, the Prime Minister of Ukraine Y. Tymoshenko met with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria B. Borisov in the city of Gdansk as part of events dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the beginning of the Second World War
• September 25, 2014 a bilateral meeting between the Prime Minister of Ukraine A. P. Yatsenyuk and the President of the Republic of Bulgaria R. Plevneliev took place within the framework of the 69th session of the UN General Assembly (New York).
• On May 26-27, 2018, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria B. Borisov visited Ukraine on a working visit.
• March 9, 2022 – telephone conversation between the Prime Minister of Ukraine D. Shmyhal and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria K. Petkov.
• On April 28, 2022, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria K. Petkov paid an official visit to Kyiv at the head of a delegation of government officials and members of the National Assembly of Bulgaria.
At the level of foreign ministers
• On November 19-20, 1995, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine H. Udovenko paid an official visit to Bulgaria.
• On November 12-13, 1998, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria N. Mihailova was on an official visit to Kyiv.
• On November 28, 2000, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, A. Zlenka, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria, N. Mihailova, within the framework of the 8th meeting of the Council of Ministers of the OSCE in Vienna (Austria).
• On January 24, 2001, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine A. Zlenko met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria N. Mihailova in Munich.
• On September 28, 2003, a meeting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine K. Hryshchenko and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria S. Pasi took place within the framework of the UN General Assembly meeting.
• On December 1, 2003, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine K. Hryshchenko met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria S. Pasi within the framework of the meeting of the Council of Ministers of the OSCE (Maastricht).
• On April 14, 2004, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine K. Hryshchenko made an official visit to Bulgaria.
• On September 22, 2004, within the framework of the 59th session of the UN General Assembly, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine K. Hryshchenko met with the Chairman of the OSCE, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria S. Pasi.
• On January 23-24, 2005, the delegation of the Republic of Bulgaria headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria S. Pasi was in Ukraine in connection with the participation in the inauguration ceremony of the President of Ukraine V. Yushchenko.
• On September 17, 2005, within the framework of the 60th session of the UN General Assembly, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine B. Tarasyuk met with the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria I. Kalfin.
• On November 29-30, 2005, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria I. Kalfin paid an official visit to Ukraine.
• On April 29, 2006, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine B. Tarasyuk met with the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria I. Kalfin within the framework of the stay of the Ukrainian delegation in Sofia.
• On September 25, 2007, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine A. Yatsenyuk met with the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria I. Kalfin during the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
• On November 27, 2007, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine A. Yatsenyuk met with the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria I. Kalfin during the meeting of the heads of governments of the CEI member states in Sofia.
• On April 22, 2008, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine V. Ogryzko paid an official visit to the Republic of Bulgaria.
• On September 23, 2008, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine V. Ogryzko met with the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria I. Kalfin during the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
• On November 28, 2008, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine V. Ogryzko met with the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria I. Kalfin during the Summit of the Heads of Government of the countries participating in the Central European Initiative (CEI).
• On December 6, 2011, Vilnius - bilateral meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine K.Hryshchenko and the Republic of Bulgaria N. Mladenov within the framework of the 18th meeting of the OSCE Regional Council.
• On November 12, 2013, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria K. Vigenin made an official visit to Ukraine.
• On March 4, 2014, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria K. Vigenin visited Ukraine.
• On June 25, 2014 - bilateral meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and Bulgaria P. Klimkin and K. Vigenin (Brussels)
• On September 23, 2014 - a bilateral meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine P.Klimkin and D. Mitov of Bulgaria took place within the framework of the 69th session of the UN General Assembly (New York)
• On February 16, 2015 - official visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine P. Klimkin to the Republic of Bulgaria
• On July 5-6, 2015, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine P. Klimkin and D. Mitov of Bulgaria paid a joint working visit to the Odesa region.
• On May 17-18, 2016, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine P. Klimkin took part in the 126th Ministerial meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Sofia and held a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria D. Mitov.
• On September 17-20, 2020 - official visit of the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria E. Zakhariyeva to Ukraine.
• On April 20, 2021 – telephone conversation between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine D. Kuleba and the Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria E. Zakhariyeva;
• On August 23-25, 2021 - S. Stoyev, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria paid a visit to Ukraine and took part in the Inaugural Summit of the Crimean Platform, in the celebrations of the 30th anniversary of the Independence of Ukraine and in the events commemorating the 200th anniversary of the day of the foundation of the city of Bolgrad.
• On April 19-21, 2022 - Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine D.Kuleba visited Bulgaria on a working visit.
Bilateral Treaty and Legal Framework
List of current international agreements between Ukraine and the Republic of Bulgaria
The main document regulating bilateral Ukrainian-Bulgarian relations is the Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation between Ukraine and the Republic of Bulgaria, signed on October 5, 1992.
Тhere are 100 valid bilateral documents between Ukraine and Bulgaria, including interstate - 9, intergovernmental - 32, interdepartmental - 59.
The bilateral treaty and legal framework covers a wide range of issues related to Ukraine- Bulgaria relations, including political cooperation, trade and economy, legal assistance, humanitarian issues.
Among the key documents are:
Trade, economic and investment cooperation of Ukraine with Bulgaria
Bulgaria is an important market for Ukraine’s products in the EU where a traditional positive foreign trade surplus for our state is accumulated and is the biggest trade and economic partner of Ukraine in the Balkan region.
Trade and economic cooperation
Bulgaria's share in the general structure of Ukrainian goods export amounts nowadays to 1,23%, and in the structure of Ukraine’s general goods import reaches to 0,74%.
In the years 2017-2019, general volume of trade in goods and services between Ukraine and Bulgaria demonstrated annual growth at over 20%. According to the results of 2019, the general volume of bilateral trade in goods and services between Ukraine and Bulgaria exceeded for the first time over the last decade 1 bn. US dollars.
During 2021, Bulgaria has been the 12th export market of Ukrainian goods products among 27 EU country members and the 14th import market of goods products to Ukraine.
In its turn, Ukraine comes into the 8 main trade partners of Bulgaria, the share of which amounted in 2021 to 59,0% from the total merchandise export of the Republic of Bulgaria in the mentioned period.
According to data of the State statistical service of Ukraine for 2021, the general volume of bilateral trade in goods and services between Ukraine and Bulgaria exceeded for the third consecutive year 1 bn. US dollars and reached a record level of 1,5 bn. US dollars. The traditional positive surplus in merchandise and services trade in 2021 to the benefit of Ukraine was 289,2 ml. U.S. dollars.
In addition, the export of Ukrainian goods to Bulgaria in 2021 increased by 163,3% compared to 2020 and amounted to 835,3 mln. U.S. dollars. In turn, export of Bulgarian goods to Ukraine increased by 187,0% and amounted to 542,0 mln. U.S. dollars. The positive surplus in merchandise trade to the benefit of Ukraine was 293,3 mln. US dollars.
Bulgaria's share in in the general structure of foreign trade in goods of Ukraine with all the countries of the world amounts nowadays to 0,98%.
The growth of Ukrainian exports of goods in 2021 was mainly due to the increase in supplies of ferrous metals and products made from them. The growth in imports from Bulgaria is explained by the increase in supplies of gasoline and petroleum products to the Ukrainian market.
The main items of Ukrainian commodity exports: ferrous metals and their products (62.5%), railway locomotives and their parts (3.7%), plastics and polymeric materials (3,1%), fertilizers (2,9%), wood and wood products (2,7%), inorganic chemical products (2,1%), oil seeds and fruits (1,7%), soft drinks and vinegar (1,8%), paper and cardboard (1,7%), cocoa and its products (1,6%), etc.
The share of Bulgaria in the total structure of goods exports of Ukraine is 1,23%.
During 2021, among the 27 EU member states, Bulgaria was the 12th export market for Ukrainian goods.
The main items of Ukrainian import of goods from Bulgaria in 2021 were: mineral fuels, oil and petroleum products (30,4%), fertilizers (11,3%), equipment for nuclear power plants (7,1%), pharmaceutical products (6,3%), ferrous metal products from them (5,0%), electrical machines and mechanisms (4,6%), plastics and polymeric materials (3,7%), essential oils (2,5%), glass and glass products (2,4%), soap, surface-active organic substances (2,1%), etc.
The share of Bulgaria in the total structure of goods imports of Ukraine is 0,74%.
Among the 27 EU member states, Bulgaria was the 14th import market of commodity products to Ukraine in 2021.
In 2021, trade in services between the two states developed actively.
The volume of bilateral trade in services between the two countries in 2021 amounted to 134,5 mln. US dollars. At the same time, the volume of exports of Ukrainian services to Bulgaria increased by 135,3% and amounted to 65,2 mln. US dollars, and similar indicators of Bulgarian exports of services to our country increased by 256,3% and equals to 69,3 mln. dollars USA. The positive balance in trade in services in favour of Bulgaria amounted to 4,1 mln. dollars USA.
In the structure of Ukrainian exports of services to Bulgaria in 2021, their main types were: transport services (63,0%), business services (15,8%), services in the field of telecommunications, computer and information services (12,9%) .
The share of Bulgaria in the geographical structure of export of services from Ukraine was 0.5%.
The Republic of Bulgaria ranks 18th among EU member states in the structure of Ukrainian exports of services to the EU.
In turn, the main types of Ukrainian imports of services from Bulgaria were: services related to travel (49,9%), transport services (40,9%), business services (4.9%).
The share of Bulgaria in the geographical structure of import of services to Ukraine was equal to 0,8%.
In total volumes of Ukrainian import of services from EU member states, Bulgaria ranks 15th place.
According to the National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria, as of the first quarter of 2022, the total volume of foreign trade in goods between Ukraine and Bulgaria amounted to 370,3 mln. US dollars (666.6 million BGN).
At the same time, the volume of Ukrainian exports of goods to the Republic of Bulgaria increased by 56.0% compared to the same period in 2021 and amounted to 272.3 mln. US dollars (490,1 mln. BGN). In turn, the volume of Bulgarian commodity exports to Ukraine during the specified period increased by 42,7% and equaled to 98,0 mln. US dollars (176.5 mln. BGN). The positive balance in goods trade in favour of Ukraine amounted to 174,3 mln. US dollars (313.6 mln. BGN).
Investment cooperation between the countries is actively developing.
According to the National Bank of Ukraine, as of December 31, 2021, Bulgaria invested USD 100,7 million in the economy of Ukraine (equity instruments and debt instruments, balances by countries of the world). The largest volume of Bulgarian investments went into the sphere of wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles – 47,2 mln. US dollars, which is 54,4% of the total volume of Bulgarian investments.
Bulgarian investments also went into the following areas: agriculture, forestry and fisheries; construction; information and telecommunications; education; art, sports, entertainment and recreation; health care and provision of social assistance; provision of other types of services. However, information on the volume of investments in these areas is confidential in accordance with the Law of Ukraine "On State Statistics", since investments in them came from no more than 2 business entities.
According to experts, Ukrainian investments in Bulgaria are aimed at the metallurgical sector, tourism business, construction and real estate trade, trade and repair.
To date, about 600 companies with Ukrainian capital are registered in Bulgaria. About 350 enterprises with the participation of Bulgarian capital and representative offices of Bulgarian companies are represented in Ukraine. However, official statistics do not reflect the real state of investment cooperation, since the majority of investments are made by Bulgarian and Ukrainian companies through third countries.
Among the positive examples of cooperation, it is worth noting the activity in Bulgaria of the Ukrainian IT company "SoftServe", which is represented on the Bulgarian market by its own Software Development Centre in the city of Sofia and is included in the list of the best outsourcing companies in the world.
Ukrainian-Bulgarian business forums are organized annually in Bulgaria (November 27, 2018, Burgas; October 18, 2019, Varna).
In 2020, a similar event was planned to be held in Plovdiv, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the format of the event was transformed into an online business conference on the Zoom platform.
On July 7, 2021, the online business forum "Ukraine - Bulgaria: opportunities for cooperation between Ukrainian and Bulgarian business during global changes" took place. The event was organized by the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as well as the Embassies of Ukraine and Bulgaria in Sofia and Kyiv, with the participation of the business circles of the two countries.
During the Forums, the economic and investment potential of the regions of Ukraine is presented, as well as successful examples of bilateral trade, economic and investment cooperation are cited. Business meetings are held in the "B2B" format.
The Ukrainian-Bulgarian Joint intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation remains an important mechanism of Ukrainian-Bulgarian cooperation in the economic and investment spheres.
The Honorary Consuls of Ukraine in Ruse, Plovdiv and Burgas, the Bulgarian-Ukrainian Chamber of Industry (BUIK) in Sofia, as well as the Bulgarian-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce in Varna are ready to represent Ukrainian business interests in Bulgaria.
In Bulgaria, the BUIK electronic Bulletin is published on a regular basis, which includes export and investment offers of Ukrainian regions and individual companies, image, tourist and positional materials.
Cooperation in the transport and tourism spheres
It should be noted the effective cooperation in recent years in the transport and tourism spheres.
The active development of cooperation between the two states is facilitated by the presence of direct regular air connections between Kyiv and Sofia. To date, several Ukrainian, Bulgarian and international aviation companies have the right to carry out direct passenger and cargo transportation between the two states. We have a regular direct flight between Kyiv and Sofia.
On August 10, 2020, a modern ferry complex was put into operation in Ukraine in the village of Orlivka, Reniy district, Odesa region, with an international checkpoint across the state border between the settlements of Orlivka (Ukraine) - Isaccia (Romania), which shortens the transport connection between Ukraine and Bulgaria.
The ferry crossing provided a direct exit from the south of the Odesa region to the European Union, shortening the journey by 200 km, and the time for cargo clearance - by 10-12 hours. On February 12, 2021, the ferry complex Orlivka (Ukraine) - Isaccia (Romania) officially started passenger transportation.
In 2017, the introduction of a visa-free regime for Ukrainian citizens to travel to the EU gave an additional positive impetus to tourism cooperation between the two states.
Bulgaria became one of the first EU member states to open its borders to Ukrainian citizens when the current epidemiological situation improved somewhat. It is in our interests to promote the restoration of active cooperation in the tourism sector.
According to the results of 2021, Bulgaria was visited by 250 039 tourists from Ukraine, which is 85.0% more than the same figure in 2020. In terms of the number of tourists, Ukraine is in the top five and ranks 5th among the countries of the world that visit the Republic of Bulgaria, overtaking such countries as Romania, Turkey, Germany and Greece.
The importance of Ukrainian tourists for the Bulgarian economy is becoming more obvious to the Bulgarian leadership, which has a certain positive resonance in the Bulgarian society.
Trade in goods and services with Bulgaria in 2014 - 2022 in accordance with the State statistical service of Ukraine (mln. US dollars)
|
Year |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
1st quarter of 2022 (trade in goods only) |
|
General trade turnover |
849,3 |
734,9 |
638,0 |
649,9 |
812,3 |
1007,6 |
872,3 |
1511,8 |
370,3 |
|
Export |
589,6 |
462,8 |
445,0 |
448,5 |
538,5 |
521,4 |
555,4 |
900,5 |
272,3 |
|
Import |
259,7 |
272,1 |
193,0 |
201,4 |
273,8 |
486,2 |
316,9 |
611,3 |
98,0 |
|
Surplus |
+ 329,9 |
+190,7 |
+252,0 |
+247,1 |
+264,7 |
+35,2 |
+238,5 |
+289,2 |
+174,3 |
Ukrainians in Bulgaria
Ukrainian Community in Bulgaria
The resettlement of Ukrainians to Bulgaria began at the beginning of the 19th century. According to the latest population census of 2011, 1.79 thousand ethnic Ukrainians lived in Bulgaria. Places of residence: Sofia, Varna, Burgas, Plovdiv, Pleven, Dobrich.
In 2013, the united all-Bulgarian public organization "Union of Ukrainian Organizations of Bulgaria "Mother Ukraine"” (SUOB), headed by Olena Kotseva, was registered in Bulgaria. The Union includes the following public organizations in Bulgaria: Foundation "Mother Ukraine" (Sofia), "Diaspora-Ukraine" (Burgas), "Ukrainian-Bulgarian Society "Plovdiv"” (Plovdiv).
There are also the public organizations "Union of Ukrainians in Bulgaria "Ukrainian Diaspora" and "Union of Ukrainians in Bulgaria "Ukrainian House" in Varna.
Ensuring the rights and interests of Ukrainian and other minorities in Bulgaria is determined by the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, to which Bulgaria joined in 1999. Bulgarian legislation does not provide for the national minorities the possibility of self-government. That deprives the Ukrainian community of the opportunity not only to enjoy certain preferences from the state, but also to apply for state financing of their activities.
Mass media of the Ukrainian community
One of the two Ukrainian-language mass media in Bulgaria is the website "Ukrainski Vesti/Bolgarski Vesti" (the first name is "Ukraine Press"), http://www.ukrpressbg.com , which appeared in June 1998. It is a private project, although it is considered as a tribune of the Ukrainian diaspora in Bulgaria. The editor-in-chief is Vasyl Zhukivskyi.
Another Ukrainian-language resource that started its work in 2017 is the website www.ukr.bg . This is a news platform where, in addition to publications about key events in Ukraine and Bulgaria, current information about the city of Burgas and the Burgas region is provided.
Educational and cultural centers of Ukrainians
The Ukrainian Sunday school in Sofia was established under Foundation "Mother Ukraine" in 2002. The first class was held on November 14, 2002. According to journalist V.Zhukivskyi, such a school was established for the first time in Bulgaria after 1944. However, due to the lack of funding and the required number of students, the Sunday school was closed.
In 2017 the activities of the Ukrainian Children's Club of Sofia were launched.
At the Faculty of Philology of Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski there is the Department of Ukrainian Studies that provides the possibility for students to study Ukrainian language.
Russia's war against Ukraine
As a result of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, more than 450,000 citizens of Ukraine entered the territory of Bulgaria, more than 121,000 Ukrainians received temporary protection and more than 87,000 Ukrainians remained on the territory of Bulgaria (information as of July 2022).
Citizens of Ukraine who have received temporary protection in Bulgaria have the right to work, professional training, education, social assistance, medical assistance and housing assistance. More detailed information can be found on the government portal "Bulgaria for Ukraine" - https://ukraine.gov.bg/ua/ .
The Ukrainian community in Bulgaria actively helps both in the matter of sending humanitarian aid to Ukraine and in helping temporary refugees from Ukraine who needed to stay in Bulgaria. Volunteer centers have been created at Union of Ukrainian Organizations of Bulgaria "Mother Ukraine" (SUOB) in Sofia (https://www.facebook.com/MatiUkraine ) and "Union of Ukrainians in Bulgaria “Ukrainian Home” in Varna (https://cutt.ly/ILZtvX1 ).
Useful groups on the Facebook network
Help for Ukrainian refugees in Bulgaria - https://www.facebook.com/groups/338927668246444
Ukrainians in Bulgaria - https://www.facebook.com/groups/311986819925/?hoisted_section_header_type=recently_seen&multi_permalinks=10159116127434926
Education and leisure time of Ukrainian refugee children - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1018257459041462
Cultural and humanitarian cooperation between Ukraine and Bulgaria
Cooperation between Ukraine and Bulgaria in the cultural and humanitarian spheres is traditionally an important component of relations between the two countries. Priority directions in this area are joint cultural events, participation of Ukrainian representatives in exhibitions, concerts and festivals organized on the territory of Bulgaria and Ukraine; establishing and developing ties between educational institutions of the two countries, including at the regional level; activation of scientific exchange between teachers and students; organization and holding of conferences and seminars with the participation of representatives of both countries; signing of new agreements between universities; conducting events to mark important dates in the history and culture of the Ukrainian people; organization of events aimed at meeting the needs of representatives of the Ukrainian community in Bulgaria, etc.
The Department of Ukrainian Studies functions at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski in the context of the implementation of agreements between the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Bulgaria.
The Honorary Consuls of Ukraine in the cities of Ruse, Plovdiv and Burgas actively help to promote Ukrainian culture and to intensify humanitarian cooperation.
During the first half of 2022 the projects implemented in Bulgaria were aimed both at informing Bulgarian society about the catastrophic consequences of Russia's war against Ukraine and the Kremlin's criminal actions, as well as at promoting our country and its European culture.
The Embassy together with its partners held the following events: a documentary film program dedicated to Ukraine (March 8-11, Sofia), viewings of the #SaveUkraine - #StopWar and #Embrace Ukraine - #StrivingTogether international charity marathons on the central square in Sofia (March 27, June 21), a presentation of the book by the Bulgarian writer S. Nahum “Escape from Crimea" (April 7, Sofia), photo exhibition "Russia must stop its bloody aggression against Ukraine" (April 15-30, Sofia), charity campaign "Donate a book for a Ukrainian child" under the patronage of the First Lady of Ukraine O.Zelenska (6 000 Ukrainian books were printed and distributed), charity Days of Ukrainian Cinema within the framework of "World Cinema in Support of Ukraine" (April 18-20, 16- May 19, Sofia), photo exhibition "Stop Russia's aggression against Ukraine" in the Parliament of Bulgaria (April 21, Sofia), photo exhibition "Ukrainian World of Maria Prymachenko" (May 16 - June 14, Sofia), photo exhibition "100 Days Of Russian WoARld" (June 4-5, Ruse, June 28 - July 28, Sofia), special Ukrainian program "Look at Ukraine with different eyes!" within the framework of OKO - International Ethnographic Film Festival in Bulgaria (May 24-26, Sofia), presentation of scientific research “Crimea. Historical overview” (June 13, Sofia).
THE CZECH REPUBLIC
1. Recognition of Ukraine: December 8, 1991
2. The establishment of diplomatic relations: January 1, 1993
3. Political relations:
Current Ukrainian-Czech political relations began even before the existence of the Czechoslovak Federation. On December 8, 1991, the Czechoslovak Federal Republic (CSFR) recognized the independence of Ukraine, and diplomatic relations between the two states were established on January 30, 1992. In May 1992, the Prime Minister of the CSFR, Marian Chalfa, during a visit to Ukraine, initialed the Treaty on Good Neighborhood and Friendly Relations, which, however, was not signed - since on January 1, 1993, the CSFR was peacefully divided into two independent states - the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic.
The countdown to the recent history of Ukrainian-Czech relations began on January 1, 1993. Ukraine was one of the first countries in the world to establish diplomatic relations with the Czech Republic on January 1, 1993, the first day of the Czech Republic's existence as an independent state.
From the very beginning, cooperation between Ukraine and the Czech Republic was characterized by dynamic development in the political, economic, and cultural spheres, active formation of the international agreements basis, and revival of bilateral contacts at various levels.
With the accession of the Czech Republic to the EU on May 1, 2004, Ukrainian-Czech relations reached a qualitatively new level.
During 2005, three high-level visits took place, which gave new impetus to Ukrainian-Czech cooperation: on February 9-10, a parliamentary delegation led by the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine V. Lytvyn paid an official visit to Prague, on May 10, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic C.Svoboda visited Ukraine, and on June 14-16 took place the state visit to Ukraine of the President of the Czech Republic V. Klaus.
On December 19, 2011, the official visit of the Prime Minister of Ukraine to the Czech Republic took place.
On September 10-12, 2013, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine paid a visit to the Czech Republic, and on October 20-22, 2013 took place the official visit of the President of the Czech Republic to Ukraine.
In January 2019, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, T. Petrshichek, paid a working visit to Ukraine, and in November of the same year, the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, A. Babish, paid an official visit.
In February 2020, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine V. Prystaiko paid a working visit to Prague, during which the work of the "Ukrainian-Czech Forum" was launched, which aims to promote dialogue at the level of civil society.
In 2021, the positive dynamics in Ukrainian-Czech relations continued, in particular, on August 22-25, the Chairman of the Senate (upper house) of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, M.Vystrchil, paid an official visit to Ukraine.
The key elements of the program of his visit were participation in the founding Summit of the Crimean Platform, events to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Independence of Ukraine, meetings with the President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyy, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine D. Razumkov, the leader of the Crimean Tatars M. Dzhemilev, the Chairman of the Mejlis R. Chubarov, as well as a visit to the Chongar checkpoint on the administrative border of the occupied Crimea with the mainland of Ukraine.
In October 2021, the First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic J. Ruzhichka took part in events in connection with the 80th anniversary of the Babyn Yar tragedy.
Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Czech Republic has become one of the closest partners of our state in Europe, which demonstrates incredible solidarity with our country in all spheres. Despite the war, Ukrainian-Czech bilateral contacts have significantly intensified.
On March 15, 2022, the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, P. Fiala, paid a working visit to Ukraine with the Prime Ministers of Poland and Slovenia, during which they met with the President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyy and the Prime Minister of Ukraine D. Shmyhal.
On June 15, 2022, the President of Ukraine, V. Zelenskyy, delivered a speech before the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic.
On July 14-15, 2022, the Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine O. Stefanishyna paid a working visit to the Czech Republic with the aim of participating in an informal meeting of European Affairs Ministers within the framework of the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU.
The contacts at the inter-parliamentary level have significantly intensified. On April 14, 2022, the Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic M. Vystrchil paid a working visit to Ukraine.
In March and June 2022, the Special Envoy of the President of Ukraine, First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine O. Kornienko and Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine O. Kondratyuk visited the Czech Republic.
The Czech Republic remains a reliable partner of Ukraine in the international arena, primarily in support of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our state, consistently supports Ukraine's European integration and Euro-Atlantic course, and also provides assistance in resisting Russian aggression.
4. Trade and economic relations:
According to the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, in 2021 the commercial turnover of foreign trade in goods and services with the Czech Republic totalized 3049,9 million US dollars (it was more for 58,8% or 1129,3 million US dollars than in 2020), of which exports – 1500,1 million US dollars, imports – 1549,8 million US dollars.
During the mentioned period, trade in goods amounted to: Ukrainian exports – 1414,6 million US dollars, imports – 1480,7 million US dollars.
According to the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, the structure of trade in goods with the Czech Republic in 2021 was the following:
in exports: ores, slag and ash – 48,7%; electric machines - 16,8%; ferrous metals - 6,5%; wood and wood products - 4,4%; organic chemical compounds - 4,4%;
in imports: mineral fuels, oil and products of its distillation – 20,0%; land transport (except railway) - 16,4%; electric machines - 13,5%; nuclear reactors, boilers, machines - 13,5%; plastics, polymer materials - 6,9%.
Trade in services amounted to: Ukrainian exports - 116,1 million US dollars, imports - 69,1 million US dollars.
The structure of trade in services with the Czech Republic in 2021 was the following:
In exports: transport services – 26,8%; services for the processing of material resources – 26,4%; telecommunications, computer and information services – 18,5%; business services – 14,1%; travel services – 5,1%.
in imports: business services – 19,2%; insurance – 18,1%; telecommunications, computer and information services – 17,1%; transport services – 14,7%; royalties and other services related to intellectual property – 12,1%.
5. Legal base:
The legal base of bilateral relations consists of 57 documents.
Key documents:
Agreement between the Government of the Czech Republic and the Government of Ukraine for the promotion and reciprocal protection of investments (17.03.1994 р.);
Treaty on good neighbourly relations and cooperation between Ukraine and the Czech Republic (26.04.1995 р.);
Treaty between Ukraine and the Czech Republic on legal assistance in civil cases (28.05.2001 р.);
Treaty between Ukraine and the Czech Republic on social security (25.07.2003 р.);
Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Czech Republic on economic, industrial and scientific and technical cooperation (16.04.2004 р.);
Protocol to the Convention between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the Czech Republic on the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion regarding taxes on income and property (valid since December 9, 2015, applied since January 1, 2016);
Implementation protocol to the Agreement between Ukraine and the EU on the readmission of persons (concluded on 21.10.2013);
Agreement between the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Ministry of Defense of the Czech Republic on mutual control of the quality of defense products in the implementation of military-technical cooperation from 21.10.2013.
6. Cultural and humanitarian cooperation:
The cultural cooperation between Ukraine and the Czech Republic is based on the Agreement on cooperation in the field of culture between the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine and the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic (signed on 15 December 2016). In 2021, the second meeting of the Ukrainian-Czech Civil Forum under the auspices of the Foreign Ministers of Ukraine and the Czech Republic took place, and the participants also agreed on the need to strengthen cultural cooperation between our countries.
With the signing of the agreement, humanitarian cooperation between our countries has been significantly intensified. Alone with the support of the Embassy, dozens of cultural, social or commemorative events have been organized throughout the Czech Republic, that significantly improved the image of Ukraine in Czechia.
The participation of Ukrainian artists in local art festivals of international scale is becoming systematic. As Ukrainian film industry has flourished in recent years, these have included the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, the Ji.hlava Documentary Film Festival, One World Film Festival, and the International Film School in Uherské Hradiště. In Prague and Brno, Ukrainian films are screened annually as part of the Ukrainian Film Week, with the participation of filmmakers and other Ukrainian guests.
Every year, Ukrainian literature is presented at the Prague International Book Fair, in which Ukraine has been a regular participant since 2015. In 2015, Ukraine was the main guest of the literary festival Month of Ukrainian Reading in Brno and Ostrava, which was attended by 31 writers. Recordings of the readings, as well as short documentary films "Ukrainian Reading" about the writers are freely available online. In recent years, quite a lot of translations of Ukrainian literature for children and adults have been published.
As the Russian war in Ukraine wages on, Czech musicians and artist are performing benefit concerts, art exhibitions in solidarity, with many of the event proceeds going to humanitarian efforts or to support Ukrainian Army.
7. Scientific and Educational Cooperation
Scientific and technical cooperation between Ukraine and the Czech Republic develops within the framework of the implementation of the Agreement between the Government of the Czech Republic and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on Scientific and Technical Cooperation, which was concluded on 19 December 2011 and ratified by the Ukrainian Parliament on 17 May 2017, and the Agreement on Scientific Cooperation between the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NAS of Ukraine) and the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (CAS of the Czech Republic), signed on 31 October 2000.
Both Ukraine and Czechia have advanced research and development sectors of their national economies that lay the basis for the implementation of the joint projects in this field.
Currently, both countries enjoy the dynamic partnership in the fields as follows:
- IT;
- the electricity sector;
- environmental science and sustainable use of natural resources;
- biotechnology and the prevention of diseases;
- new chemical substances and materials;
- engineering;
- social sciences, humanities, arts.
There is an ongoing development in cooperation between Ukrainian and Czech universities. The Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv is actively cooperating with the Brno University of Technology and the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences. The Kherson State University is cooperating with the Institute of Botany of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. V. Ye. Lashkaryov Institute of Semiconductor Physics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine cooperates with the Institute of Physics of the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University. The B. I. Vierkin Institute of Physics and Technology of Low Temperatures of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine cooperates with the Institute of Physics of Materials of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. The Kyiv National University of Technology and Design cooperates with the Technical University of Liberec. The Lviv National Ivan Franko University cooperates with Charles University. The Frantsevich Institute for Problems of Materials Science of the NAS of Ukraine cooperates with the Central European Institute of Technology and the Brno University of Technology. The O. O. Chuyko Institute of Surface Chemistry of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine cooperates with the Institute of Environmental Technologies of the Technical University of Ostrava.
8. Ukrainians in Czechia:
According to official statistics of the Czech Statistical Office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Czech Republic, as of June 30, 2022, around 579 791 Ukrainians live and work in the Czech Republic.
The statistical data on migration processes in recent years indicate that Ukrainians in the Czech Republic are the largest national minority, ahead of Slovaks, Poles and Germans.
The Ukrainian community in the Czech Republic is united in a wide chain of public organizations, which are situated in Prague, Brno, Hradec Kralove, Liberec, and Pardubice.
On the basis of the agreement with the International Ukrainian School, there is a Ukrainian Saturday School "Erudyt" http://erudyt.cz/ in Prague which issues diplomas of the state standard on general secondary education (Director - Nataliya Farkash).
In 2017, the Ukrainian cultural and educational center "Krok" ttps://uaportal.cz/%20https:/www.uakrok.cz started working in Prague, where children are taught the Ukrainian language, literature, culture, ethnology, and geography of Ukraine (head of organization - Taras Kostiuk).
In 2018, Saturday Ukrainian schools began to operate in the cities of Brno (Ukrainian Cultural and Educational Center of Brno https://www.ukrcentrum.cz/ , director - Mykola Buryak) and Hradec Králové (Ukrainian Saturday school "Nytochka Rodovodu", director - Natalia Dotsenko).
Church is also an important unifying factor for Ukrainians in the Czech Republic. There are Greek Catholic churches in the cities of Prague, Brno, Liberec and Mlada Boleslav, Pardubice, in which worship services are held also in Ukrainian language.
The two oldest Ukrainian organizations in the Czech Republic – The Ukrainian Initiative in the Czech Republic and the Union of Ukrainians and Supporters of Ukraine – represent the Ukrainian national minority in the Government Council for National Minorities of the Czech Republic and in the Committee for Cooperation with Self-Governing Bodies.
9. Diplomatic missions
The Embassy of Ukraine in the Czech Republic, the Consulate of Ukraine in Brno.
The political relations between Ukraine and Georgia
Recognition of Ukraine: December 12, 1991.
Establishment of diplomatic relations: July 22, 1992.
Diplomatic institutions: Embassy of Ukraine in Georgia; Honorary Consulate of Ukraine in Batumi; Embassy of Georgia in Ukraine; Consulate of Georgia in Odesa, Honorary consulates in Kharkiv and Lviv.
Agreements and legal basis:
The number of valid documents: 130 agreements, 140 - politically binding joint documents between state authorities and management, subjects of cross-border cooperation and civil society.
Basic political agreement: Treaty on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance between Ukraine and the Republic of Georgia (April 13, 1993).
High-level bilateral bodies:
High-level Ukrainian-Georgian Strategic Council (the Regulation on the High-level Ukrainian-Georgian Strategic Council was signed at the level of the President of Ukraine and the Prime Minister of Georgia on December 13, 2019 in Kyiv);
Joint intergovernmental Ukrainian-Georgian commission on economic cooperation.
(On July 18, 2017, the Presidents of Ukraine and Georgia signed the Declaration on the establishment of a strategic partnership between the two countries, in which the main goals are defined:
de-occupation of the territories of two states and restoration of their territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders;
sustainable democratic development and economic growth of Ukraine and Georgia;
full integration into the EU and NATO.
In accordance with these strategic tasks, the document outlines ten areas of the coordinated policy of the two states).
General issues.
Georgia constantly supports Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity on all bilateral and international platforms and condemns russian aggression against Ukraine. In 2020, Georgia supported Ukraine's initiatives/positions in international organizations at 27 events, in 2021 - at 31 events, and from the beginning of 2022 - at 13 events. In total, Georgia joined 235 international initiatives in support of Ukraine (resolutions, declarations, statements, decisions).
Georgia supported the establishment of a Special Tribunal to punish the leadership of the russian federation for aggression against Ukraine, the exclusion of the russian federation from PACE and generally from the Council of Europe, the convening of an extraordinary session of the Council of the International Maritime Organization "Consideration of maritime safety and the safety of sailors in the Black and Azov Seas as a result of the further invasion of the russian federation to Ukraine", co-authored and supported the resolutions of the UN General Assembly "Aggression against Ukraine" (03/02/2022), "Humanitarian consequences of aggression against Ukraine" (03/24/2022), "Suspension of Russia's membership in the UN Human Rights Council" (04/07 2022) and joined the EU declaration on atrocities committed by russia in Bucha and other cities of Ukraine (April 7, 2022).
However, Georgia did not support Ukraine's lawsuit against the Russian Federation at the International Court of Justice of the United Nations (July 14, 2022), as it fears involvement in the legal process as a third party, which could negatively affect the processes of Georgia itself against Russia in international courts.
Ukraine, in turn, continues to support Georgia's initiatives in bilateral and international formats in matters of preserving its sovereignty and territorial integrity. In particular, on 04.04 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and 08.05.2022 Embassy of Ukraine in Georgia published statements condemning and not recognizing the "presidential elections" in the occupied Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia. 09.06 Ukraine supported the Georgia-initiated UNGA resolution "Status of Internally Displaced Persons and Refugees from Abkhazia, Georgia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, Georgia", which recognizes the right of all refugees and forcibly displaced persons (IDPs) to return to Abkhazia and "South Ossetia".
Recent contacts at the highest level:
2019:
May 20 – the meeting of the President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyy with the President of Georgia S. Zurabishvili during the inauguration ceremony (Kyiv);
September 1 – the meeting of the President of Ukraine with the President of Georgia during the events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the beginning of the Second World War (Warsaw);
September 26 – the meeting of the President of Ukraine with the President of Georgia on the sidelines of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly (New York);
December 13 – official visit of the Prime Minister of Georgia G.Gakharia to Ukraine (Kyiv) – meeting with the President of Ukraine V.Zelenskyy;
2020
December 29 – telephone conversation between the Prime Minister of Ukraine D.Shmyhal and the Prime Minister of Georgia G.Gakharia.
2021
April 15 – telephone conversation between the President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyy and the President of Georgia S. Zurabishvili.
May 7 – telephone conversation between the Prime Minister of Ukraine D.Shmyhal and the Prime Minister of Georgia I.Garibashvili.
May 17 – official visit of the Vice-Prime Minister of Georgia, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia D.Zalkaliani to Ukraine – meeting with the President of Ukraine V.Zelenskyy;
June 2-4 – the official visit of the Prime Minister of Ukraine D. Shmyhal to Georgia;
June 23 – the official visit of the President of Georgia S. Zurabishvili to Ukraine;
July 19 – the working visit of the President of Ukraine V.Zelenskyy to Georgia to participate in the Batumi International Conference and sign the Declaration of the "Associated Trio" at the level of the Presidents of Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova with the participation of the President of the Council of Europe Sh.Michel;
August 21-22 – the official visit of the Prime Minister of Georgia I.Garibashvili to Ukraine;
August 23 – the participation of the Prime Minister of Georgia I.Garibashvili in the inaugural summit of the Crimean Platform;
October 5-7 – working visit of the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia K.Kuchava to Ukraine to participate in the events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Babyn Yar tragedy;
October 21-22 – the 10th meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Ukrainian-Georgian Commission on Economic Cooperation;
November 11 – telephone conversation between the President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyi and the Prime Minister of Georgia I. Garibashvili;
November 11 – telephone conversation between the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine R. Stefanchuk and the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia K. Kuchava.
2022
April 13 – a video conference conversation between the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine R.Stefanchuk and the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia Sh.Papuashvili.
April 16 – the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia Sh.Papuashvili's visit to Ukraine and a meeting with the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine R. Stefanchuk.
Hungary
1. Recognition of Ukraine’s independence:
Hungary was the third country after Poland and Canada to recognize Ukraine’s independence on December 3, 1991.
2. Diplomatic relations:
On December 3, 1991, the Protocol on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Ukraine and the Republic of Hungary was signed and entered into force. Thus, Hungary became the first country with which Ukraine established diplomatic relations after the restoration of its independence. On the same day, Hungary was the first to open its embassy in the Ukrainian capital, and on March 24, 1992, the Ukrainian embassy in Hungary was solemnly opened and became the first diplomatic mission of Ukraine abroad.
3. Political relations:
Bilateral relations between Ukraine and Hungary are among the priorities for the Ukrainian side in view of the neighborhood of the two countries, Hungary's membership in the EU and NATO, as well as Ukraine's interest in cooperation with the Visegrad Group.
An important aspect in bilateral relations is the residence of about 150,000 ethnic Hungarians on the territory of Ukraine, and over 7,000 Ukrainians on the territory of Hungary.
President of Hungary János Áder took part in the inaugural Summit of the Crimea Platform on August 23, 2021. Hungary joined the Declaration of the Crimea Platform.
The last telephone conversation between President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbán took place on June 21, 2022.
The last in-person contact at the level of heads of foreign ministries of the two countries took place on July 22, 2021, during the visit of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary Péter Szijjártó to Ukraine as a Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
A number of joint bilateral commissions and working groups have been established between Ukraine and Hungary, the key ones are the Joint Intergovernmental Ukrainian-Hungarian Commission on Economic Cooperation, Ukrainian-Hungarian Intergovernmental Commission on Cross-Border Cooperation, Ukrainian-Hungarian Joint Commission on Ensuring the Rights of National Minorities, Ukrainian-Hungarian working Group on Education, Ukrainian-Hungarian Joint Commission on Border Traffic Control and Ukrainian-Hungarian Working Group on Agriculture.
4. Trade and economic cooperation:
According to the National Bank of Ukraine, as of December 31, 2021, Hungary invested USD 390.7 million in the economy of Ukraine and Ukraine invested USD 4.4 million in Hungary's economy. In 2021, investments from Ukraine were made in the following areas of the Hungarian economy: industry (processing industry; water supply; sewage, waste management); transport, warehousing, postal and courier activities; professional, scientific and technical activity.
The main investment projects on the Ukrainian market are: OTP Bank Ukraine in Kyiv; Hungarian airline WizzAir in Kyiv and Lviv; representative office of Richter Gedeon in Ukraine, Kyiv; representative office of Aegis Pharmaceuticals in Ukraine, Kyiv; "Masterplast Ukraine" in Uzhgorod district, Transcarpathian region; KES-UA Holding LLC in Kyiv; "3 Betons" LLC in Kalush, Ivano-Frankivsk Region; «Power Belt" LLC in Mukachevo, Transcarpathian region.
5. Legal framework:
The legal basis of Ukrainian-Hungarian relations covers a wide range of cooperation in the political and economic spheres, transport, culture and education, social and consular issues. It consists of over a hundred international agreements and treaties. The main document is the Treaty on the Foundations of Good-Neighborly Relations and Cooperation between Ukraine and the Republic of Hungary, signed on December 6, 1991 (entered into force on June 16, 1993).
6. Ukrainian community:
The Ukrainian minority in Hungary consists of mostly natives of Western Ukraine, who moved to Hungary during the second half of the 20th century. These are mostly first- and second-generation Ukrainian migrants, who started families or moved to Hungary for permanent residence together with Ukrainian families.
According to the latest Hungarian population census (October - November 2011), 7,396 people identified themselves as Ukrainians on the territory of Hungary. The Ukrainian ethnic group was ranked seventh among the 13 historical national minorities of Hungary (after the Roma, German, Slovak, Romanian and Croatian minority).
According to the census of the year 2011, 3,384 people in Hungary recognized Ukrainian as their mother tongue and actively followed national and cultural traditions. Among the persons belonging to the Ukrainian minority, 4,638 are citizens of Hungary (62.7%).
Several joint groups and cultural and educational organizations of the Ukrainian community are officially registered and operating in Hungary, the main ones are: Society of Ukrainian Culture of Hungary (TUKU), Ukrainian Cultural Association of Csongrad Region, Association of Ukrainian Youth and Families of Hungary “New Wave", Ukrainian Association "Unity". These organizations are members of the Advisory Council, established at the Embassy of Ukraine in Hungary on January 22, 2021.
7. Diplomatic missions of Ukraine and Hungary:
Embassy of Ukraine in Hungary and Consulate of Ukraine in Nyiregyháza. There are also two honorary consular institutions in Hungary: Honorary Consulate General in Szeged and Honorary Consulate in Siófok.
Political relations between Ukraine and Montenegro
Recognition of the independence of Montenegro by Ukraine: 15.06.2006
Establishment of diplomatic relations: 22.08.2006.
Diplomatic missions: Embassy of Ukraine in Montenegro. Honorary Consulate of Ukraine in Nikšić. Honorary Consul - Predrag Milović.
Embassy of Montenegro in Ukraine. Ambassador- Dragica Ponorac
Honorary Consulate of Montenegro in Odessa. Honorary Consul – Stanislav Dovhyi.
Honorary Consulate of Montenegro in Kharkiv. Honorary Consul – Olga Oleksienko.
Political dialogue
October 14, 2008 - official visit of Minister for Foreign Affairs of Montenegro Milan Ročen to Ukraine.
June 11, 2010 - meeting of Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Lytvyn with President of the Parliament of Montenegro Ranko Krivokapić (Limassol, Cyprus).
November 4, 2011 - working meeting of Prime Minister of Ukraine and Prime Minister of Montenegro Igor Luksić during the Summit of the Heads of Government of the CEI member countries (Belgrade).
December 8-9, 2011 - visit of Prime Minister of Ukraine to Montenegro.
December 3-7, 2013 - participation in the OSCE Ministerial Conference (Kyiv), the President of the Parliament of Montenegro, the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Mr. Ranko Krivokapić, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Montenegro Igor Luksić.
March 31 - April 1, 2014 - meeting of President of the Parliament of Montenegro, President of the OSCE R. Krivokapić with Head of the Verkhovna Rada, acting President of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov (Kyiv).
September 1, 2015 - telephone conversation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin with Vice Prime Minister - Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Montenegro Igor Luksić.
August 24, 2017 - visit of Minister of Defense Predrag Bošković to Kyiv at the invitation of the President of Ukraine to participate in the solemn events on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of Ukraine's independence and the 100-th anniversary of the founding of the Ukrainian National Army.
January 23-26, 2019 - working visit of Minister for Temporary Occupied Territories and IDPs V. Chernysh to Montenegro.
February 16, 2019 - meeting of President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko with President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović during the 2019 Munich Security Conference.
May 30 - June 01, 2019 - working visit of the Minister for Temporarily Occupied Territories and IDPs Viktor Chernysh to Montenegro, participation in the “To Be Secure Forum”.
June 19, 2021 - meeting of Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro Đorđije Radulović during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.
August 23, 2021 - participation of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro Đorđije Radulović in the inaugural summit of the Crimean Platform.
December 03, 2021- participation of Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olga Stefanishyna in the Summit of Heads of State of the Central European Initiative.
May 14, 2022 - meeting of Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro Ranko Krivokapić during the informal meeting of the ministers of foreign affairs of NATO member countries on May 14-15, 2022.
June 15, 2022 - official visit of Prime Minister of Montenegro Dritan Abazović to Ukraine.
Bilateral high-level bodies
Ukrainian-Montenegrin Working Group on Tourism. First meeting was held 31.05.2013.
Legal base
The number of valid documents - 36.
Key bilateral documents:
Cultural and humaniarian cooperation between Ukraine and Montenegro
The Embassy of Ukraine in Montenegro contributes to the development of bilateral relations between Ukraine and Montenegro in cultural and humanitarian spheres.
The main areas are:
holding the events dedicated to outstanding dates of the history of Ukraine;
promotion of the Ukrainian culture;
cooperation with Ukrainians abroad.
The Embassy conducts cultural events with the participation of Ukrainians and Montenegrin citizens in order to meet national and cultural needs and support dialogue with Ukrainians living in Montenegro.
Since April 2022, the first public organization of local Ukrainians in Montenegro has been operating - the Ukrainian Association "Dobra Sprava" (“Dobro Djelo”). During the war, this organization mainly provides help and support to Ukrainian refugees, but in the future its activities will be focused on the cultural sphere.
In 2011 in the center of Podgorica, on the territory of the City Park a pedestal of the famous Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko was erected. The total height of the sculptural composition is 3.2 meters, and cast in bronze.
In 2013 in Kyiv, a monument of Montenegrin greatest leader and poet Petar Njegoš was erected.
Bilateral Treaty and Legal Framework between Ukraine and Montenegro
|
№ |
Date of signing |
Date of entry into force |
Title |
|
1. |
24.02.1962 |
27.11.1996/ 09.10.2019* |
Agreement between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Federative Republic of Yugoslavia on mutual legal assistance in civil, family and criminal matters |
|
2. |
27.11.1996 |
27.11.1996 |
Agreement on cooperation between the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts |
|
3. |
09.01.2001 |
09.01.2001/ 09.10.2019* |
Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Federal Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on science and technical cooperation |
|
4. |
22.03.2001 |
30.11.2001/ 09.10.2019* |
Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Federal Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on avoidance of double taxation with respect to taxes on income and on capital |
|
5. |
01.10.2001 |
05.07.2005/ 09.10.2019* |
Consular convention between Ukraine and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia |
|
6. |
01.10.2001 |
29.01.2003/ 09.10.2019 |
Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Federal Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on cooperation in the area of health and medical science |
|
7. |
23.08.2002 |
23.08.2002/ 09.10.2019* |
Memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of transport of Ukraine and the Maritime Administration of Yugoslavia on recognition of certificates pursuant to regulation 1/10 of the International Convention on Standards of training, certification and watch keeping for seafarers |
|
8. |
17.06.2009 |
01.06.2010 |
Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of Montenegro on mutual assistance in customs matters |
|
9. |
22.06.2009 |
22.06.2009 |
Agreement on cooperation between the State Archives Committee and the State Archives of Montenegro |
|
10. |
15.06.2010 |
24.10.2010 |
Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of Montenegro on the regime of mutual travel of citizens |
|
11. |
16.10.2010 |
16.10.2010 |
Agreement on cooperation between the Federation of Employers of Ukraine and the Federation of Employers of Montenegro |
|
12. |
19.10.2010 |
19.10.2010 |
Agreement on cooperation between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Montenegro |
|
13. |
18.11.2011 |
18.11.2011 |
Protocol on Access to Markets in Goods and Services in the Framework of Montenegro's Accession to the WTO |
|
14. |
18.11.2011 |
01.01.2013 |
Free Trade Agreement between Ukraine and Montenegro |
|
15. |
09.12.2011 |
08.12.2015 |
Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of Montenegro on air services |
|
16. |
09.12.2011 |
01.01.2013 |
Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of Montenegro on cooperation in the field of culture |
|
17. |
09.12.2011 |
09.12.2011 |
Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of Montenegro on cooperation in the field of tourism |
|
18. |
09.12.2011 |
09.12.2011 |
Agreement between the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Ministry of Defense of Montenegro on cooperation in the field of defense |
|
19. |
12.03.2013 |
12.03.2013 |
Agreement on cooperation between the State Intellectual Property Service of Ukraine and the Intellectual Property Office of Montenegro |
|
20. |
13.06.2013 |
13.06.2013 |
Agreement between the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine and the Ministry of Education of Montenegro on cooperation in the field of youth policy, physical education and sports |
|
21. |
13.06.2013 |
13.06.2013 |
Memorandum of cooperation between the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Montenegro in the fight against crime |
|
22. |
13.06.2013 |
15.12.2016 |
Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of Montenegro on cooperation in the field of protection against natural and other disasters |
|
23. |
17.09.2013 |
17.09.2013 |
Agreement between the Ukrainian National ICC and the CCI of Montenegro on cooperation and promotion of international trade |
|
24. |
09.12.2011 |
12.12.2017 |
Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of Montenegro in the field on education and science |
|
25. |
20.01.2020 |
20.01.2020 |
Memorandum of understanding between the Public Joint Stock Company “Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine” and Radio i Televizija Crne Gore |
* date of entry into force according to the Agreement on Succession between Ukraine and Montenegro
Cooperation between regions of Ukraine and Montenegro
|
№ |
Date of signing |
Date of entry into force |
Title |
|
1. |
03.04.2009 |
03.04.2009 |
Protocol on cooperation between the Lviv Regional Administration and the City Hall of Podgorica |
|
2. |
25.06.2009 |
25.06.2009 |
Protocol on cooperation between the mayoralties of Sviatohirsk (Donetsk region) and Danilovgrad |
|
3. |
06.09.2009 |
06.09.2009 |
Protocol on cooperation between Uzhhorod and Ulcinj city halls |
|
4. |
04.12.2009 |
04.12.2009 |
Protocol on cooperation between the Kyiv City State Administration and the City Hall of Budva |
|
5. |
04.12.2009 |
04.12.2009 |
Protocol on cooperation between the Odessa Regional Council and the Herceg Novi Assembly |
|
6. |
06.07.2010 |
06.07.2010 |
Protocol on cooperation between Slovianoserbsk (Luhansk region) and Kolašin |
|
7. |
04.02.2011 |
04.02.2011 |
Protocol on cooperation between Mariupol and Bar |
|
8. |
04.02.2011 |
04.02.2011 |
Protocol on cooperation between Bila Tserkva and Bijelo Pole |
|
9. |
17.04.2011 |
17.04.2011 |
Protocol on cooperation between Kharkiv and Cetinje |
|
10. |
30.05.2011 |
30.05.2011 |
Protocol on cooperation between Marhanets and Pljevlja |
|
11. |
08.09.2021 |
08.09.2021 |
Agreement on the establishment of friendly relations between the cities - Kyiv, Ukraine and Podgorica, Montenegro |
Bilateral relations between Ukraine and North Macedonia
History of bilateral relations
Relations between Ukraine and Macedonia were initiated on July 23, 1993 with Ukraine's recognition of the state independence of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
Diplomatic relations were established on April 20, 1995 by exchanging notes between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Macedonia.
Official contacts were initiated in May 1996 with the visit of the delegation of Ukraine headed by the Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine V. Pustovoytenko.
The Agreement on friendship and cooperation between Ukraine and the Republic of Macedonia, which defines the main principles and directions of development of bilateral relations, was concluded during the official visit of the President of Ukraine L. Kuchma to Macedonia on December 16-17, 1998.
In June 2000, the diplomatic mission of Ukraine was opened in the Republic of Macedonia.
In November 2001, the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Macedonia was opened.
|
Recent contacts at the level of Presidents: |
|
|
August 24, 2021 |
participation of the President of the Republic of North Macedonia, Stevo Pendarovski, in the celebrations on the occasion of the Independence Day of Ukraine (Kyiv) |
|
September 8, 2021 |
telephone conversation between the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi and the President of North Macedonia Stevo Pendarovski |
|
November 01, 2021 |
meeting of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi with the President of North Macedonia Stevo Pendarovski within the framework of participation in the UN Conference on Climate Change COP26 in Glasgow |
|
May 25, 2022 |
meeting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba with the President of the Republic of North Macedonia Stevo Pendarovski within the framework of the World Economic Forum in Davos |
|
at the level of Prime Ministers: |
|
|
February 23 and March 27, 2022 |
telephone conversations between the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal and the Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia Dimitar Kovacevski |
|
June 2, 2022 |
meeting of the Vice-Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olga Stefanishyna with the Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia Dimitar Kovacevski on the sidelines of the Globsec security forum (Bratislava) |
|
at the level of Speakers of Parliaments: |
|
|
November 22, 2017 |
visit of the the parliamentary group of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on inter-parliamentary relations to the Republic of Macedonia |
|
May 29, 2018 |
visit of the parliamentary delegation of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia to Ukraine |
|
June 10-12, 2021 |
visit of the parliamentary group of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on inter-parliamentary relations to the Republic of North Macedonia |
|
April 27, 2022 |
visit to Ukraine by the President of the Assembly of North Macedonia Talat Xhaferi, meetings with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi and the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk |
|
at the level of Ministers of Foreign Affairs: |
|
|
April 11-12, 2018 |
official visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin to the Republic of Macedonia |
|
August 23, 2021 |
visit to Ukraine by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani and his participation in the Summit of the Crimean Platform (Kyiv) |
|
February 19, 2022 |
meeting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani within the framework of the Munich Security Conference |
|
April 8, 2022 |
meeting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani during the visit of the "OSCE Troika" to the border of Poland and Ukraine in Rzeszów (Poland) |
|
May 14, 2022 |
meeting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani in Berlin |
|
May 19, 2022 |
meeting of the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Emine Dzhaparova and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani in Turin |
|
May 27, 2022 |
visit to Ukraine by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani |
Bilateral bodies of high level
The Intergovernmental Ukrainian-Macedonian Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation. The third meeting of the Commission was held on June 16, 2021 in Kyiv.
The Joint Committee for the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement between Ukraine and the Republic of Macedonia. The second meeting of the Committee was held on May 28-31, 2009 in Ohrid.
Contractual and legal framework
Number of valid documents: 46 contractual and legal acts.
Key documents
Agreement on friendship and cooperation between Ukraine and the Republic of Macedonia (December 16, 1998)
Agreement between Ukraine and the Republic of Macedonia on free trade (January 18, 2001)
Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia on the promotion and mutual protection of investments (March 2, 1998)
Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia on the conditions for mutual travel of citizens (July 12, 2019).
Important documents that are at the stage of processing
Amendments to the Free Trade Agreement regarding the liberalization of trade in agricultural products and the inclusion of the provisions of the Pan-Euro-Med Convention
Draft Agreement on social security
Ukrainians in North Macedonia
Total number: about 500 people.
Association of Ukrainians: Community of Ukrainians in the Republic of Macedonia “Lesya Ukrainka” (about 60 people).
Political relations between Ukraine and Poland
On December 2, 1991, the Republic of Poland was the first in the world to officially recognize the state independence of Ukraine.
On January 8, 1992, diplomatic relations were established between the two states.
On May 18, 1992, the interstate Ukrainian-Polish Agreement on Good Neighborliness, Friendly Relations and Cooperation was signed.
The process of development of relations between Ukraine and the Republic of Poland can be conditionally divided into three periods:
1992-1993 - establishing contacts, "opening" Ukraine to the general public of the Polish political elite and Polish society, signing the first bilateral documents, mutual study of potential opportunities for cooperation;
1993-1999 - bringing bilateral relations to the level of strategic partnership;
Since 1999 - s.d. - the development of strategic partnership between Ukraine and the Republic of Poland corresponds to the national interests of both states. Poland is an important ally of our country in international organizations and regional associations. As a member state of the EU and NATO, Poland consistently supports the European integration and Euro-Atlantic aspirations of Ukraine, constantly emphasizes the need to maintain an "open door" policy for new member states, one of the largest contributors to the OSCE SMM in Ukraine. Ukraine and Poland are actively cooperating on issues of energy security and diversification of energy supply sources, cyber security, military-technical and defense industries. There is a positive trend in increasing the volume of bilateral trade. Interregional cooperation is actively developing, as well as cooperation in the field of education, science, culture, and youth exchanges. In July 2020, Ukraine together with the Republic of Poland and the Republic of Lithuania formed a regional format - the "Lublin Triangle". An example of successful cooperation between our countries is the activity of LITPOLUKRBRIG named after Prince Konstantin Ostrozky.
Since 2014, on all international platforms, the Republic of Poland has resolutely advocated the need to increase pressure on the Russian side in order to restore the territorial integrity of Ukraine within internationally recognized borders.
The war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine (February 24, 2022) further consolidated the representatives of all political parties and forces of the Polish state and Polish society in full support of Ukraine.
In the international arena, the Republic of Poland advocates the need for the international community to increase pressure on the Russian Federation to immediately end the war against Ukraine and restore the territorial integrity of our state within internationally recognized borders.
In this regard, official Warsaw is extremely actively using the available bilateral and multilateral instruments of influence on the international arena to support Ukraine. The leadership of the Polish state during bilateral meetings, including within the framework of the EU and NATO, international organizations constantly emphasizes the need to strengthen sanctions against the Russian Federation, as well as to provide our country with military, financial and humanitarian aid.
Official Warsaw conducts a fairly active campaign in support of Ukraine's membership in the European Union.
Chronology of political dialogue between Ukraine and Poland
2022 YEAR
CONTACTS AT THE LEVEL OF PRESIDENTS
January 20-21 – working visit of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi to the Republic of Poland (Visula)
February 22 – working visit of the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda to Ukraine (Kyiv)
February 24 – two telephone conversations between the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi and the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda
February 26 – two telephone conversations between the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi and the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda
February 27 – two telephone conversations between the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi and the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda
February 28 - telephone conversation between the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi and the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda
March 1 - two telephone conversations between the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi and the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda
March 3 - telephone conversation between the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi and the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda
March 4 - telephone conversation between the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi and the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda
March 7 – telephone conversation between the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi and the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda
March 8 – telephone conversation between the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi and the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda
March 11 - the speech of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi during the meeting of the National Assembly of the Republic of Poland with the participation of the leadership of the Polish state, deputies of the Sejm and the Senate of the Republic of Poland (in the format of video communication)
March 13 - telephone conversation between the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi and the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda
March 14 - telephone conversation between the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi and the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda
March 20 - telephone conversation between the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi and the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda
March 26 - telephone conversation between the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi and the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda
March 26 – meeting of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi with the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda (via video link)
April 4 – telephone conversation between the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi and the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda
April 13 – the working visit of the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda together with the presidents of the Baltic states to Ukraine (Kyiv, Bucha, Borodyanka)
April 17 – telephone conversation between the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi and the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda
May 3 - telephone conversation between the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi and the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda
May 22 – visit of the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda to Ukraine (Kyiv)
June 6 – telephone conversation between the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi and the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda
June 13 – meeting of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi with the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda and the President of the Slovak Republic Zuzanna Chaputova (via video link)
June 20 – telephone conversation between the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi and the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda
July 19 – telephone conversation between the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi and the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda
INTERGOVERNMENTAL DIALOGUE
February 1 - working visit of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki to Ukraine (Kyiv)
February 27 – telephone conversation between the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal and the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki
March 5 - telephone conversation between the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal and the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki
March 8 - telephone conversation between the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal and the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki
March 14 – the participation of the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania in the Summit of Heads of Government of the "Lublin Triangle"
March 14 - telephone conversation between the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal and the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki
March 14 - a telephone conversation between the First Vice-Prime Minister, the Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yulia Svyridenko and the Minister of Development and Technologies of the Republic of Poland Piotr Novak.
March 15 – the visit of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Poland, Mateusz Morawiecki, together with the heads of the governments of the Czech Republic and Slovenia to Ukraine (Kyiv)
March 17 - telephone conversation of the First Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yuliya Svyridenko with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Republic of Poland Henry Kovalchyk.
April 19 – visit of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki to Ukraine (Lviv)
April 22 - visit of the Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland Piotr Glinski to Ukraine (Kyiv)
April 23 – meeting of the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal with the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki (Krakow)
May 5 - visit of the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal to the Republic of Poland (Warsaw)
May 9 - visit of First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yulia Svyridenko to the Republic of Poland (Warsaw)
May 17 - visit of the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov to the Republic of Poland (Warsaw)
June 1 – visit of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki to Ukraine (Borodyanka, Kyiv)
July 12-13 – visit of the Vice Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Poland Mariusz Blaszczak to Ukraine (Kyiv)
CONTACTS AT THE LEVEL OF THE MFA
February 24 - meeting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland Zbigniew Rau (Warsaw)
March 1 - the participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba in the meeting of the heads of foreign policy departments of the countries participating in the "Weimar Triangle" (Lodz/Ukrainian side in the format of video communication)
March 5 - meeting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland Zbigniew Rau (Podkarpattia Voivodeship)
March 26 – visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba and the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov to the Republic of Poland (Warsaw)
March 26 – meeting of First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Emine Jeppar with Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland Pavl Yablonski (Doha)
March 30 - April 5 - working visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba to the Republic of Poland (Warsaw)
April 8 – working visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba to the Republic of Poland (Rzeszów)
June 11 – telephone conversation between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland Zbigniew Rau
June 30 – telephone conversation between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland Zbigniew Rau
INTERPARLIAMENTARY RELATIONS
January 25 – a telephone conversation between the Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Olena Kondratyuk, and the Vice-Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, Ryshard Terlecki
March 2 – telephone conversation of the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Ruslan Stefanchuk, with the Marshals of the Seym of the Republic of Poland, Elzhbeta Vitek
March 4 - the participation of the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk and the Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland Elzhbeta Vitek in a meeting with the heads of the parliaments of the EU member states (via video link)
March 30 - visit of Ryshard Terletskyi, Deputy Marshal of the Seym of the Republic of Poland, to Ukraine (Lutsk)
April 14 – working visit of Marshal of the Senate of the Republic of Poland Tomasz Grodzky together with the head of the Parliament of the Czech Republic to Ukraine (Kyiv, Bucha, Borodyanka, Irpin)
April 20-21 – visit of the Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Olena Kondratyuk to the Republic of Poland (Holm, Warsaw)
April 23-24 - visit of Vice-Marshals of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland Malgozhata Gosevska to Ukraine (Odesa)
May 25 – visit of the Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Olena Kondratyuk to the Republic of Poland (Warsaw)
AT THE LEVEL OF DEFENSE DEPARTMENTS
March 22 - a meeting between the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Oleksiy Reznikov, and the Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Poland, Mariusz Blaszczak.
Bilateral relations between Ukraine and Romania
Recognition of Ukraine: January 8, 1922.
Establishment of diplomatic relations: February 2, 1992.
Political relations:
Ukraine pays special attention to develop its relations with Romania as a neighbouring state, which uncondintionally supports the European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine. Romania does not recognize the attempted illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and russia's occupation of the part of the territory of Ukraine, supports the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Ukrainian State within the framework of internationally recognized borders and condemns any attempts to ignore international norms.
The establishment of strategic partnership relations with Romania, given the role of this state in the EU, NATO and its strong position in the regional security system, is a significant factor of stability in Central and Eastern Europe, the Black Sea region and an important element of the European security architecture.
Special attention is paid to the deepening of bilateral cooperation with Romania in the economic and energy spheres, which are of a strategic nature for both states.
Visits and contacts at the level of heads of state:
On June 2, 1997, the President of Ukraine, Leonid Kuchma, paid an official visit to Romania; the Agreement on good-neighborly relations and cooperation between Ukraine and Romania was signed in Constanta;
on May 27-28, 1999, the President of Romania, Emil Constantinescu, paid an official visit to Ukraine (Kyiv and Chernivtsi);
President of Romania Ion Iliescu paid an official visit to Ukraine on September 17-19, 2002 (Kyiv and Odesa);
on June 17, 2003, the President of Romania, Ion Iliescu, paid a working visit to Ukraine (Chernivtsi), the Agreement between Ukraine and Romania on the regime of the Ukrainian-Romanian state border, cooperation and mutual assistance on border issues was signed;
on April 21-22, 2005, the President of Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko, paid an official visit to Romania;
on February 1, 2006, the President of Romania, Traian Basescu, paid an official visit to Ukraine;
on October 30-31, 2007, the President of Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko, paid an official visit to Romania;
on August 20, 2008, the President of Romania, Traian Basescu, paid a working visit to Ukraine;
on March 17, 2015, the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, paid an official visit to Ukraine;
on April 21, 2016, the President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, paid an official visit to Romania;
on February 1, 2022, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, had a telephone conversation with the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis;
on June 16, 2022, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, met with the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, who, together with the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, the Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz and the Prime Minister of Italy, Mario Draghi, was in Ukraine on a visit.
Meetings of the Presidents also took place within the framework of international forums and multilateral meetings.
High-level bilateral bodies:
The Joint Ukrainian-Romanian Presidential Commission;
The Mixed Ukrainian-Romanian border commission;
The Joint Ukrainian-Romanian Commission on Economic, Industrial, Scientific and Technical Cooperation
The Mixed Ukrainian-Romanian Intergovernmental Commission on Ensuring the Rights of Persons Belonging to National Minorities.
Bilateral treaties:
Number of documents in force: 68.
There are 22 drafts of bilateral normative acts under consideration and processing, including 11 intergovernmental and 10 inter-agency regulations.
The main bilateral documents:
The Agreement on Good-neighborly Relations and Cooperation Between Ukraine and Romania, signed in Constanta on June 2, 1997 (the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine ratified the Agreement on July 17, 1997, the Parliament of Romania on July 14, 1997).
The Agreement between Ukraine and Romania On the Regime of the Ukrainian and Romanian State Border, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance on Border Issues, signed on June 17, 2003 (ratified by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on May 12, 2004, by the Parliament of Romania on April 5, 2004).
The Consular Convention between Ukraine and Romania, signed on September 3, 1992 (entered into force on March 14, 1995).
Trade and economic cooperation:
According to the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, at the end of 2021, the volume of trade between Ukraine and Romania amounted to 2,340.02 million USD (2020 – 1,764.8 million USD), of which exports – 1,543.6 million USD (2020 – 1,080.9 million USD) and import 796.3 million USD (2020 - 683.8 million USD).
The main indicators of Ukrainian export were: ferrous metals - 16.1% of the total volume, electric machines - 14.6%, ores, slag and ash - 13.4%, wood and wood products - 8.3%, mineral fuels - 6.8%, fertilizers – 4.8% and footwear – 4.5%.
The main indicators of romanian goods to Ukraine were: means of land transport other than railways - 18.8% of the total volume of imports, electric machines - 17.0%, nuclear reactors, boilers - 6.4%, wood - 6.1%, fuel mineral products - 5.4%, pharmaceutical products - 4.2%.
More details - http://www.ukrstat.gov.ua/.
Ukrainian community:
According to the results of the 2011 population census, 51.7 thousand ethnic Ukrainians live in Romania.
The organization that officially represents the Ukrainian national minority in Romania: The Union of Ukrainians of Romania.
Representative of the Ukrainian national minority in the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of Romania: Head of the Union of Ukrainians of Romania Nicolae-Miroslav Petrețchi.
Diplomatic representation of Ukraine: Embassy of Ukraine in Romania.
Political issues
Ukraine has the diplomatic relations with the Republic of Serbia on the level of embassies.
The diplomatic relations between Ukraine and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) were established on 15 April 1994. The two countries hold an intensive political dialogue. There are regular contacts on different levels, aimed at realizing the bilateral treaties and enlarging the legal basis of cooperation between Ukraine and the Republic of Serbia.
Bilateral contacts at a high level:
January 2001 – working visit of the President of Ukraine L.Kuchma to Belgrade and negotiations with the President of FRY V.Kostunica.
The end of September – the beginning of October 2001 – visit of the Prime minister of FRY D.Pesic to Kyiv.
February 2002 – visit of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of FRY G.Svilanovic to Kyiv.
September 2002 - a working meeting of the presidents of Ukraine and the FRY, L.Kuchma and V.Kostunica, at the World Forum on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg (South Africa).
September 2002 – the meeting of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine A.Zlenko with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of FRY G.Svilanovic during the 57th session of UNGA in New York.
April 2003 – working meeting of the President of Ukraine L.Kuchma with the President of Serbia and Montenegro (SCG) S.Marovic at the European conference in Athens (Greece).
September 2003 – working meeting of the President of Ukraine L.Kuchma with the President of SCG S.Marovic during the 58th session of UNGA in New York.
November 2003 – official visit of the President of Serbia and Montenegro S.Marovic to Kyiv and negotiations with the President of Ukraine L.Kuchma.
February 2004 – visit of the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Y.Marchuk to Belgrade.
October 2004 – visit of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine K.Hryschenko to Belgrade.
January 2005 – participation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of SCG V.Draskovic in the ceremony of inauguration of the President of Ukraine V.Yuschenko.
February 2005 – the meeting of the President of Ukraine V.Yuschenko with the President of SCG B.Tadic in Zagreb during the inauguration of the President of Croatia S.Mesic.
May 2005 – meetings of Vice-prime minister of Ukraine O.Rybachuk with the President of the Republic of Serbia B.Tadic, Prime minister V.Kostunica, Minister of International Economic Relations P.Ivanovic in Belgrade.
June 2005 – official visit of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of SCG V.Draskovic to Ukraine.
June 2005 – meeting of the Head of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine V.Lytvyn with the Head of Skupstina of SCG Z.Sami in terms of 25th session of the General Assembly of PAPSEC in Kyiv.
November 2005 – the meeting of the Prime minister of Ukraine Y.Yehanurov with the President of SCG S.Marovic in terms of the Summit of the heads of governments of the states-members of CEI in Slovakia.
December 2005 – participation of the official delegation of SCG, led by the Minister of international economic relations of SCG P.Ivanovic, in the Forum of the Community of Democratic Choice in Kyiv. Meeting of P.Ivanovic with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine B.Tarasyuk.
December 2005 – the meeting of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine B.Tarasyuk with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of SCG V.Draskovic during the session of the Council of Ministers of OSCE (Lubljana).
January 2006 – official visit of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine B.Tarasyuk to SCG.
March 2006 – official visit of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of SCG V.Draskovic to Ukraine.
July 2007 – working visit of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine A.Yaceniuk to the Republic of Serbia.
February 14, 2008 – visit of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Serbia V.Jeremic to Ukraine.
April 8-9, 2008 – working visit of the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine K.Yelisieiev to Serbia.
November 11, 2008 – talk of the President of Ukraine V.Yuschenko and the President of Serbia B.Tadic in Warsaw in terms of celebrating 90th anniversary of the Polish statehood.
June 19, 2009 - the meeting of the President of Ukraine V.Yuschenko with the President of Serbia B.Tadic in terms of the 16th Summit of the Heads of States of Central Europe in Novi Sad.
February 25, 2010 - participation of the First Vice Prime minister, Minister for Internal Affairs of RS I.Dacic in the ceremony of inauguration of the President of Ukraine V.Yanukovych.
July 5, 2010 - official visit of the Head of National Assembly of RS S.Djukic-Dejanovic to Ukraine.
April 4-5, 2011 – visit of the Chairman of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine V.Lytvyn to Serbia.
May 30-31, 2011 – visit of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Serbia V.Jeremic to Ukraine.
November 4, 2011 - visit of the Prime Minister of Ukraine M.Azarov to Serbia in terms of CEI Summit.
November 10-11, 2011 - visit of the President of Serbia B.Tadic to Ukraine.
June 6-7, 2013 – official visit of the President of Ukraine V.Yanukovych to Serbia.
July 27-28, 2013 – working visit of the President of Serbia T.Nikolic to Ukraine.
December 5-6, 2013 – working visit of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Serbia I.Mrkic to Ukraine.
December 24, 2014 – working visit of the First vice-prime-minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia I.Dachich to Ukraine.
July 16-17, 2015 - working visit of the First vice-prime-minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, OSCE Chairperson-in-office I.Dacic to Ukraine.
December 3-4, 2015 - working visit of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine P.Klimkin to Serbia in terms of participation in the OSCE Ministerial Meeting.
July 27-28, 2016 - visit of Ukrainian delegation led by the Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine on European Integration I.Klimpush-Cincadze to Serbia.
July 2-3, 2018 - official visit of the President of Ukraine P.Poroshenko to Serbia.
October 13, 2020 – meeting in Belgrade between the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Vasyl Bodnar, and the First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Ivica Dacic.
August 23, 2021 — participation of Mrs Tamara Vučić, First Lady of Serbia in the Kyiv Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen.
September 10, 2021 - Ukrainian-Serbian political consultations were held in Kyiv under the chairmanship of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Vasyl Bodnar, and the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, Nemanja Starovic.
May 19, 2022 - meeting of the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine E. Dzhaparova with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia N. Selakovic in Turin (Italy) on the sidelines of the 132nd ministerial meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
Interparliamentary cooperation
On June 7, 2022, a meeting of the Chairman O. Merezhko and members of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation with the leadership of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Parliament of Serbia took place in the remote video conference mode
Support of territorial integrity and sovereignty
Serbia did not take part in the vote on UN GA resolution 68/262 "Territorial Integrity of Ukraine" (2014). The Serbian delegation voted against pro-Ukrainian UN General Assembly resolutions “Problem of the militarization of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine, as well as parts of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov” (2018-2021) and “Situation of human rights in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol (Ukraine)” (2016-2021). Serbia voted in favor of UN GA resolutions “Aggression against Ukraine” on March 2, 2022 and “Humanitarian consequences of the aggression against Ukraine” on March 24, 2022. On April 7, 2022, Serbia supported the suspension of the membership of the Russian Federation in the UN Human Rights Council.
However, Serbia has not yet joined the sanctions against the russian federation and has not introduced its own restrictive measures.
Bilateral institutional mechanisms
Intergovernmental Ukrainian-Serbian Commission on Trade, Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation. The last, 5th meeting of the Commission was held on April 22-23, 2013 in Belgrade.
Trade and economic cooperation
Bilateral trade in goods and services between Ukraine and the Republic of Serbia in 2021 totaled 433,5 million USD (increased by 36% compared to 2020).
The balance of trade in goods and services for this period is positive for Ukraine - $26,6 million.
Bilateral trade in goods between Ukraine and the Republic of Serbia in 2021 totaled 410,2 million USD (increased by 35,8% compared to 2020).
The balance of trade in services for 2021 is positive for Ukraine - $6,9 million.
Main articles of export: iron ore and ferrous metals (70%); increased the supply of grain crops (↑1115%), soap (↑1084%) and vessels and components (↑1327%).
Main articles of import: fertilizers ($21 mln), plastics, and polymeric materials; electric machines; paper and cardboard; ferrous metals.
Dynamics of bilateral trade in goods and services between Ukraine and the Republic of Serbia (million USD)
|
Indicators |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012
|
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
|
Trade turnover |
674 |
201 |
294 |
409 |
267 |
276 |
264 |
202 |
276 |
319 |
450 |
440 |
319 |
|
Export |
579 |
143 |
211 |
289 |
136 |
132 |
122 |
118 |
168 |
184 |
286 |
274 |
149 |
|
Import |
95 |
58 |
83 |
120 |
131 |
144 |
142 |
84 |
108 |
135 |
164 |
166 |
169 |
According to the Ministry of Finance of the RS, about one thousand business entities cooperate with Ukraine.
According to the Agency for Registration of Business Entities, in 2020, 142 business entities were registered in Serbia, the majority owners of which are citizens of Ukraine or Ukrainian legal entities, most of which are engaged in retail trade and trade in auto parts, processing industry.
Cooperation between regions of Ukraine and regions of Serbia
Ukraine is actively developing contacts with Serbia at the regional level. This is facilitated, in particular, by the current bilateral documents on cooperation between the regions of the two countries. Yes, the following agreements are currently in force in this area:
Interregional cooperation is also developing in the economic sphere. This was evidenced by the signing of cooperation agreements between the regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine and Serbia: between the Kyiv Oblast (regional) Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Ukraine) and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Autonomous Region of Vojvodina (Republic of Serbia), between the Transcarpathian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Regional Chamber of Commerce Sombor, between the Zakarpattia Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Regional Chamber of Commerce of Novi Sad, between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Kyiv and the Chamber of Industry of Belgrade, between the Sumy Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine and the Panchev Chamber of Commerce, between the Cherkasy Chamber of Commerce and Industry the Chamber of Industry of Ukraine and the Chamber of Commerce of Pozharevts, between the Rivne Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine and the Chamber of Commerce of Leskovets.
The establishment of interregional contacts was facilitated by the holding of Ukrainian-Serbian business forums in Kyiv on October 3-4, 2017, and in Belgrade on July 3, 2018, which were opened by the President of Ukraine P. Poroshenko and the President of the Republic of Serbia A. Vucic.
More than 100 companies representing the fields of agriculture, construction, mechanical engineering, metallurgy, pharmaceutical industry, wholesale trade, food, woodworking, and chemical industries took part in the forum. The forum demonstrated the significant interest of Serbian companies in entering the Ukrainian market and establishing direct cooperation with Ukrainian companies,
At the forum of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine and Vojvodina Metal Cluster (VMC) signed a memorandum on cooperation both at the international and national levels. They will identify opportunities for joint development and implementation of projects within the framework of EU-funded programs. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine and the VMC will cooperate to implement joint activities aimed at establishing contacts between companies and research institutes of Serbia and Ukraine, as well as at the transfer of knowledge in the field of technology and innovation. VMC is a business association working to increase the competitiveness of the metallurgical sector in Vojvodina. It unites more than 130 members, SMEs, and business support organizations. VMC members have 300+ million euros in annual revenue (of which 82+ million euros are exports).
On November 25, 2020, the Ukrainian-Serbian online business conference "Prospects of cooperation: Ukraine-Serbia" was held. During the conference, Gennady Chyzhikov, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine, Myroslav Miletich, Advisor to the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, Oleksandr Alexandrovych, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Serbia, ex-acting Minister of Agriculture of Ukraine Olha Trofymtseva, representatives of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine and Serbia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. Ukrainian and Serbian companies took part in the event. The investment and tourism potential of the Khmelnytskyi region were presented at the conference.
On May 30, 2022, the Ambassador of Ukraine to Serbia V. Tolkach visited the production of the company "Perutnina Ptuj Topiko d.o.o" in Bačka Topola (Vojvodina), which is owned by the Ukrainian enterprise "MHP". A vivid example of effective cooperation between Serbia and Ukraine. The company is a leader in the production of chicken meat and chicken products. This is the result of the introduction of the latest modern technologies of production and environmental protection. It is especially pleasing that quality management and the vast majority of technologies and relevant processes were introduced from Ukraine.
Legal basis of bilateral relations
Ukraine and Serbia created legal basis of bilateral relations that, in general, provides the legal regulation of the main issues of Ukrainian-Serbian cooperation in political, trade and economical, cultural and humanitarian spheres. It includes, namely, such important documents as agreements on trade and economic cooperation, on mutual promotion and investments protection, on the avoid of double taxation, on scientific and technical cooperation, on educational cooperation, on military cooperation.
Till 2018 Ukrainian-Serbian legal basis has 73 bilateral documents, including 4 interstate, 18 intergovernmental, 23 interministerial, 6 regional agreements, 10 memoranda ad 12 protocols. 4 signed agreements wait for ratification.
14 documents are under consideration of both Sides.
List of valid documents
Interstate agreements
|
№ |
Valid |
Name of the document |
|
1 |
15.04.94 |
Exchange of Notes about the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Ukraine and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia |
|
2 |
24.02.1962 |
Treaty between the USSR and the Federal People Republic of Yugoslavia on Legal Assistance in Civil, Family and Criminal Cases |
|
3 |
01.11.1990 |
Trade Treaty between the USSR and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia |
|
4 |
11.04.1945 |
Treaty on Friendship, Mutual Assistance and After-war Cooperation between the USSR and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia |
|
№ |
Valid |
Name of the document |
|
1 |
16.05.1990 |
Treaty between the Government of the USSR and Executive viche of the Skupstina of the Socialistic Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on Mutual Trips of the Citizens |
|
2 |
07.06.1990
|
Treaty between the Government of the USSR and Executive viche of the Skupstina of the Socialistic Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on Air Connection |
|
3 |
18.06.1970 |
Treaty between the Government of the USSR and the Government of the Socialistic Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on International Auto Connection |
|
4 |
12.09.96 |
Treaty between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the Socialistic Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on Creation of Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation |
|
5 |
27.11.96 |
Treaty between the Government of Ukraine and the Federal Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on Trade and Economic Cooperation |
|
6 |
27.01.97 |
Treaty on Cooperation in the Sphere of Education, Culture and Sport between the Government of Ukraine and the Federal Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia |
|
7 |
20.08.01 |
Treaty between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Federal Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on Mutual Promotion and Protection of Investments |
|
8 |
30.11.01 |
Treaty between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Federal Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on Avoidance of Double Taxation Concerning Taxes on Profit and Capital |
|
9 |
29.01.03 |
Treaty between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Federal Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on Cooperation in the Sphere of Health Security and Medical Science |
|
10 |
29.01.03 |
Treaty between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Federal Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on Scientific and Technical Cooperation |
|
11 |
02.06.04 |
Treaty between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Federal Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on Cooperation in the Sphere of Avoiding Extraordinary Situations and Liquidations of Their Consequences |
|
12 |
04.08.04 |
Treaty between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Council of Ministers of Serbia and Montenegro on Military and Technical Cooperation |
|
13 |
05.04.05 |
Treaty between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Council of Ministers of Serbia and Montenegro on Cooperation in the Sphere of Tourism |
|
14 |
12.08.2005 |
Treaty between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Council of Ministers of Serbia and Montenegro on Trips of the Citizens with Diplomatic and Service Passports without Visas |
|
15 |
05.07.05 |
Consular Convention between Ukraine and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia |
|
16 |
21.12.06 |
Note of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia № 3231-6/06 from 21.12.2006 about the Principle of Mutuality between Ukraine and the Republic of Serbia Concerning the Right for Property on Immovability |
|
17 |
31.05.11 |
Treaty between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of Serbia on Mutual Refusal From Visa Requests for Citizens |
|
18 |
10.11.11 |
Treaty between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of Serbia on Cooperation in the Sphere of Defence |
|
19 |
10.11.11 |
Treaty between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of Serbia on International Auto Transport of Goods and Travellers |
|
20 |
01.11.12 |
Treaty between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of Serbia on Mutual Support in Custom Issues |
Interdivisional agreements
|
№ |
Valid |
Name of the documents |
|
1 |
01.10.01 |
Treaty on Cooperation in the field of Sport between State Committee of Youth Policy, Sport and Tourism of Ukraine and Federal secretariat of Sport and Youth of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia |
|
2 |
12.02.02 |
Treaty between State Committee of Standardization of Ukraine and Federal Organ of Standardization of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on Cooperation in the Sphere of Standardization |
|
3 |
05.11.03 |
Treaty on Cooperation between Trade and Industrial Chamber of Ukraine and Trade and Industrial Chamber of the Republic of Serbia |
|
4 |
13.02.04 |
Treaty on Cooperation between Trade and Industrial Chamber of Zakarpatska Region and Trade and Industrial Regional Chamber of Sombor |
|
5 |
13.02.04 |
Treaty on Cooperation between Trade and Industrial Chamber of Zakarpatska Region and Trade and Industrial Regional Chamber of Novi Sad |
|
6 |
16.04.04 |
Treaty on Cooperation between Trade and Industrial Chamber of Kyiv and Trade and Industrial Chamber of Belgrade |
|
7 |
25.08.04 |
Treaty on Cooperation between the State Committee of Archives of Ukraine and Archive of Serbia and Montenegro |
|
8 |
21.02.2006 |
Treaty on Scientific Cooperation between National Academy of Science of Ukraine and Serbian National Academy of Science and Art |
|
9 |
28.02.2006 |
Treaty on Cooperation between Kyiv Regional Trade and Industrial Chamber and Trade and Industrial Chamber of Autonomous Land Voyvodyna |
|
10 |
15.09.2006 |
Treaty on Cooperation between Zakarpatska Regional State Tele and Radio Company and Radio-diffusion Agency of Voyvodyna |
|
11 |
02.10.08 |
Treaty on Educational and Scientific Cooperation between Kyiv University of Law of NAN of Ukraine and Faculty of Law of Nis University of the Republic of Serbia |
|
12 |
02.10.08 |
Treaty on Educational and Scientific Cooperation between Kyiv University of State and Law under I.Koreckii of NAN of Ukraine and Faculty of Law of Nis University of the Republic of Serbia |
|
13 |
24.10.08 |
Treaty on Cooperation between Kharkiv National University under V.Karazin and Belgrade University |
|
14 |
07.04.09 |
Program of Cooperation in Cultural sphere between the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Ukraine and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia for 2009-2011 |
|
15 |
06.10.09 |
Treaty between Trade and Commercial Chamber of Ukraine and Commercial Chamber of Serbia on Creation of Common Ukrainian-Serbian and Serbian-Ukrainian Business Council |
|
16 |
06.10.09 |
Treaty on Cooperation between Trade and Industrial Chamber of Sumi Region and Trade and Industrial Regional Chamber of Pancevo |
|
17 |
06.10.09 |
Treaty on Cooperation between Trade and Industrial Chamber of Cherkasi Region and Trade and Industrial Regional Chamber of Pozarevac |
|
18 |
06.10.09 |
Treaty on Cooperation between Trade and Industrial Chamber of Rivne Region and Trade and Industrial Regional Chamber of Leskovac |
|
19 |
05.07.10 |
Agreement on Interparliamentarian Cooperation between the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and Narodna Skupstina of the Republic of Serbia |
|
20 |
20.07.10 |
Memorandum of Mutual Understanding between Lviv State Television Company and Radio Television ofVojvodina |
|
21 |
20.01.11 |
Treaty on Cooperation in Agricultural Sphere between the Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine and the Ministry of Agriculture, Wood and Water Industry of the Republic of Serbia |
|
22 |
01.05.11 |
Agreement on Scientific and Technical Cooperation between the Institute of Work Medicine of the National Academy of Medicine Sciences of Ukraine and the Institute of Work Medicine of the Republic of Serbia |
Regional agreements
|
№ |
Valid |
Name of the document |
|
1 |
27.05.95 |
Charter on Partnership between the City of Khmelnyck and City of Bor |
|
2 |
05.06.02 |
Treaty on Cooperation between City State Administration of Kyiv and Majority of Belgrade |
|
3 |
26.02.04 |
Treaty between Kalush and Bachka Palanka on Trade and Commercial, Scientific, Cultural and Humanitarian Cooperation |
|
4 |
24.06.04 |
Protocol on Promotion of Bilateral Cooperation between Chortkiv District of Ternopil Region and the Region of Kula |
|
5 |
07.05.05 |
Treaty on Cooperation between the City of Lviv (Ukraine) and Novi Sad (Serbia and Montenegro) |
|
6 |
28.02.06 |
Treaty between Kyiv Regional State Administration of Ukraine and Autonomous Land Voyvodyna of Serbia and Montenegro on Trade and Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation |
|
7 |
24.06.07 |
Treaty on Cooperation between City Administration of Buchach, Ukraine, and Vrbas Region, Serbia |
|
8 |
26.06.07 |
Protocol on the Willingness for Friendship between Cherkasi (Ukraine) and Pirot (Republic of Serbia) |
|
9 |
18.05.11 |
Protocol on the Willingness for Friendship between Kirovograd Regional Council and Skupstina of the Autonomous Region of Vojvodina |
Memorandums
|
№ |
Valid |
Name of the document |
|
1 |
22.03.01 |
Memorandum between the Government (Cabinet of Ministers) of Ukraine and Federal Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia about the Measures, Aimed to the Liberalization of Mutual Trade |
|
2 |
23.08.02 |
Memorandum of Mutual Understanding between Maritime Administration of Yugoslavia and the Ministry of Transport of Ukraine on Recognition of Diplomas (certificates) of Sailors according to the Provisions of Regulation 1/10 of International Convention on Preparation and Certification of Sailors and Keeping the Watch from 1978, with the Amendments from 1995. |
|
3 |
18.10.04 |
Memorandum on Cooperation between the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine and the Diplomatic Academy of Serbia and Montenegro |
|
4 |
06.06.05 |
Memorandum on Cooperation in the Sphere of European and Euroatlantic Integration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia and Montenegro |
|
5 |
01.03.2006 |
Memorandum on Cooperation between the Prosecutor-General’s Office of Ukraine and the Prosecutor-General’s Office of the Republic of Serbia in the Sphere of Fighting against Transnational Criminality and Laundering of Money, Received by Criminal Means |
|
6 |
26.10.07 |
Memorandum on Cooperation between Ternopil Region State Administration, Ternopil Regional Council (Ukraine) and National Council of Ukrainian National Minority (Serbia) |
|
7 |
26.10.07 |
Memorandum on Cooperation between Lviv Region State Administration, Lviv Regional Council (Ukraine) and National Council of Ukrainian National Minority (Serbia) |
|
8 |
21.07.10 |
Plan of Consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia for 2010 |
|
9 |
21.04.11 |
Plan of Consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia for 2011 |
|
10 |
25.06.11 |
Memorandum on Cooperation between Reforms Club of Ukraine and Serbia club “Privrednik” |
|
11 |
06.07.11 |
Memorandum between Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv State Administrations and Skupstina of the Autonomous Region of Vojvodina on Cooperation and Coordination |
Protocols
|
№ |
Valid |
Name of the document |
|
1 |
10.10.1985 N 891_300 |
Protocol to the Treaty between the Government of the USSR and the Government of the Socialistic Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on International Auto Connection from 18 June 1970 |
|
2 |
24.01.96 |
Protocol on Consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia |
|
3 |
22.03.01 |
Protocol of the first session of Intergovernmental Ukrainian-Yugoslavian Commission on Trade and Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation |
|
4 |
05.06.02 |
Protocol of the second session of Intergovernmental Ukrainian-Yugoslavian Commission on Trade and Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation |
|
5 |
06.06.05 |
Protocol on Exchange of the Instruments of Ratification concerning Consular Convention between Ukraine and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia |
|
6 |
01.11.06 |
Working Protocol between the Union of Writers of Serbia and the Union of Writers of Ukraine |
|
7 |
10.11.11 |
Protocol of the forth Session of Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation |
|
8 |
10.11.11 |
Protocol on Cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia |
Ukrainian – Rusyn community in the Republic of Serbia
History of the Ukrainian community in Serbia
Ukrainians migrated from the territory of Ukraine to the territory of today’s Republic of Serbia in ancient times and in different historical and economic conditions. Migration of scientists and religious people began in XV century in the times of Turkish occupation of the Balkan Peninsula. This process gradually increased especially in the beginning of XVIII century. The most intensive and massive migration was to the territory of today’s Serbian Vojvodina which was a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It is worth to note that professors from Kyiv’s Academy were teachers of Latin and Slavic languages, Philosophy and Theology in Sremski Karlovci in 1735. M. Kozachynskyi was one of the most famous among them. He wrote and together with his pupils played the first Serbian spectacle.
Being of Ukrainian monks in the Fruška Gora monasteries in the beginning of VXIII century opened one more chapter of Ukrainian-Serbian ties. For example, Arsenii Yovanovych Shakabenda from the Kyiv-Pechersk Monastery brought icon painters to Karlovac’s Metropolis in 1743. Those artists painted monasteries and taught Serbian young painters. Some of those wall paintings are on the walls and arcs of the monasteries in Fruška Gora. There are such church books printed in Ukraine as Kyiv’s (psalms, liturgy, Bible, lives of saints, apostles, apostolic call, canons, religious alphabets) in Serbian monasteries Obed (not existing), Vrdnik, Jazak, Besenovo, Sisatovac, Pjatkovica, Kuvezdin, Divsa, Privina Golova, Hopovo, Krusedol, Velika Remeta, Grgeteg, Rakovica and Beocin. There were also books on natural sciences, dialogs, philosophy and others. The majority of them have been saved.
In the first half of XVII century, after Austria forced Turkey to leave the South-Eastern regions of Europe, a new wave of migration from the whole Empire to those regions started. Regions of current Vojvodina were less populated and economically developed at that time. The situation became worth after Serbians had migrated to Ukraine and created New Serbia and Slavic Serbia. The colonization of Slovaks, Czechs, Germans, Polishes and other peoples on those free lands started.
Replacement of Slavic peoples from the territory of current Ukraine to Backa, Srem and Slavonija started in 1745. The first organized settlements were in Kula, Krstur (Ruski Krstur), Kucur and other villages around Backa and later around Sid and Srem.
Zaporizhzhya Cossacks in Vojvodina. In 1775 the Russian Empress Yekaterina II Velikaya drove out Cossacks from the Empire after she had destroyed the Ukrainian Cossacks’ state on the banks of Dniper – Zaporizhzhya Sich. The Cossacks were moving several years in the Turkish Empire, along Danube, in Moldova and the Tatar region. Having been dissatisfied by the conditions of life in Turkey the Cossacks asked the Austrian Imperator Joseph II to permit them to migrate to the Empire. They reached an agreement after long talks but the conditions of replacement were not appropriate for the Cossacks. They had to find armament and horses themselves and serve under the authority of German officers. They had to wear their national Cossack uniform. They didn’t have right to marry and were limited in movement. The payment for their service was minimal. In such conditions from 7 000 to 8 000 of Ukrainians moved to Serbia in 1785. It was the second wave of Ukrainian migration to the territory of current Vojvodina. Part of Cossacks, which formed small military groups, was located in the military zone close to Turkey. Cossacks in the region of Banat had their meeting centre in Temisvar and brigades from Pancevo and Bela Crkva had their meeting centre in Senta. People from that centre were later recruited to militia in Subotica, Novi Sad and Sombor. Being old Cossacks retired from the force with a small salary and stayed in Titel, Kovil and Sajkas.
The further fate of Ukrainians is not clear. Some historians consider that the Cossacks’ (плем’я) died because of (заборона) to have a family. Other historians think that Cossacks mixed with local citizens and became Serbians. Part of Cossacks might come back to the Danube Sich or to the Dniper banks that was their motherland. There are not evidences of staying of those Ukrainians today.
Emigration in 1920s. In 1920s (at the time of the Great October Revolution in Russia) about 70 thousands of refugees from Ukraine and the Southern Russia found an asylum in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. There were about 40 thousands of militaries and 30 thousands of civilians among migrants. There is a suggestion that there were about 30 thousands of Ukrainians among them. They were firstly settled in near 300 colonies all over the Kingdom. They got right to choose the region of their settlement freely just in 1924. A part of them decided to stay in Serbia but the majority of Ukrainians from the Western Ukraine chose Croatia, Vojvodina and Slovenia.
The cultural community “Prosvita” and further “Ukrainian Society” were established. Ukrainians prepared Shevchenko evening meetings, sang Ukrainian songs, read poems, danced Ukrainian dances, opened libraries and reading halls in purchased buildings. The Shevchenko evening meetings in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes transmitted into Ukrainian Culture Days. The theatre group of the Society played Ukrainian pieces. In cooperation with the Serbian choir it organized successful concerts including Serbian and Ukrainian song. Later “Prosvita” opened its branches in Novi Sad, Veliki Beckerek (now Zrenjanin), Subotica, Sid and other towns. The community “Kobzar” was established in Smederevo. It included theatre and musical groups. There were Ukrainian amatory theatre groups in Sabac, Pozarevac, Zajecar and other towns. Students established the Community of Ukrainian students. There were a lot of educated persons among emigrants (professors, lawyers, doctors, pharmacists, artists and others) who made huge contribution to education, culture and art of Serbia between the two world wars.
Colonization of Vojvodina. The most massive replacements of Ukrainians from Bosnia to Serbia were after the WWII in 1945-1946. The new state, the Federal People Republic of Yugoslavia, started populating Vojvodina by partisan families from Bosnia, Lika, Banja, Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia. Several Ukrainian families were replace at that time. Ukrainians settled in Ruske Selo, Novi Kozarci, Krajisnik near Banat, Budisav, Kovil, Kaca, Backa Jarka, Zmajev, Ratkovo and other villages near Banat. Several Families settled near Zemun. Taking into account large territory and small number of families which settled there communities were not numerous.
Separate settlements. Ukrainians actively migrated from Bosnia to Vojvodina looking for better conditions of life in 1950s and 1960s. This led to creation of the Ukrainian community in Vojvodina. It was impossible to (визначити) the number of Ukrainians in Vojvodina after the WWII. Ukrainian minority didn’t exist as a organized community and was marked as “Rusyns, Rutens, Ukrainians, Maloruses” or was by belonging to religion orientations. Those data didn’t show the real number of Ukrainians who got its national identity in lists of nationalities after (перепис) in 1971.
Today
According to the data of 2002 about 16 thousands of citizens of Serbia say that they are Rusyns and about 5 thousands – Ukrainians.
The Ukrainian minority live mostly in Vojvodina. Novi Sad, Vrbas, Kula, Sremska Mitrovica and Indjija are administrative centres for Ukrainians and Novi Sad, Ruski Krstur, Kucura, Djurdjevo and Sid – Rusyns. A few Ukrainians and Rusyns live in Belgrade.
Rusyns elected the National Council of Rusyn National Community of Serbia on 4th November 2018. Boris Sakach was appointed as the President of the Council.
Ukrainians elected the National Council of Ukrainian National Community of Serbia on 4th November 2018. The Council included 15 members. Mikola Liahovich was appointed the President of the Council.
Besides them Ukrainian-Rusyn community established the Union of Rusyns – Ukrainians of Serbia (member of the World Federation of Lemkos) and the Society of the Ukrainian language, literature and culture “Prosvita” and other local cultural societies.
The President of the Union of Rusyns – Ukrainians of Serbia B.Vislavskyi (appointed in 2008), the Honoured President of the Union S.Sakach and members of the organization lead activities to organizing cultural and educative events aimed at preserving Ukrainian conciseness of the minority. They organize summer schools for young people, exhibitions, lectures devoted to important events of Ukraine’s history and history of Rusyns and Ukrainians in Serbia.
The Society of the Ukrainian language, literature and culture “Prosvita” (the head is S.Mykytyshin) is popular civil society organization of the Ukrainian community. Due to activities of the Society in Novi Sad, Kula, Vrbas, Indjija and Sremska Mitrovica the level cultural life of Ukrainians became higher.
The Society of Ivan Seniuk from Kula, the Society “Carpathians” from Verbac, “Kolomyika” from Sremska Mitrovica play important role in preserving Ukrainian culture.
Ensuring educational rights
According to official data Rusyn language in the Vojvodina is taught in 65 elementary and 21 high schools, the Rusyn gymnasium “Peter Kuzmyak” (Ruski Kerestur), the Cathedra of Rusyn Language and Literature on the Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad University.
Ukrainian language with elements of national culture is taught to pupils of 1-8 farms of 12 Serbian schools in Novi Sad, Kula, Vrbac, Indjija, Sremska Mitrovica, Budisava and Lavino in Vojvodina.
Representatives of the Ukrainian nationality are taught in the Section of Ukrainian language of the Philological Faculty in Belgrade University.
Mass-media of the Community
The weekly “Ruske slovo”, the newspaper for young people “MAK”, the magazine for children “Zagradka”, the literature magazine “Shvetlosts” and the magazine “Golos Soyuzu” are edited in Rusyn language. There is the Rusyn reduction on the Vojvodina Television which has 4 hours program daily. The Rusyn language is also used on local televisions in Kula, Vrbas and Sid.
Ukrainian programs on the Vojvodina Television are prepared by Ukrainian journalists just for the Rusyn reduction. Besides Novi Sad Ukrainian radio is also in Vrbas, Kula, Indjija, Sremska Mitrovica. 30-minutes TV program “Ukrainian Panorama” is transmitted on the TV-channel RTS-2 two times per month. There are also the Ukrainian newspaper “Ridne Slovo” (since 2005), the calendar “Ridne Slovo”, the magazine “Ukrajinske Slovo” and the magazine for children “Soloveiko”.
THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC
On December 8, 1991, the Czechoslovak Federal Republic (CSFR) recognized the Independence of Ukraine.
Recognition of Slovakias independence by Ukraine: January 01, 1993.
Establishment of diplomatic relations: January 01, 1993.
1. Political dialogue:
Slovakia fully supportes international sanctions against russia for its military aggression in Ukraine and occupation of Crimea. Bratislava actively supports Ukraine in such international organizations as the United Nations, OSCE, NATO, EU, Council of Europe, UNESCO.
The Slovak Republic provides comprehensive support to Ukraine for EU accession.
The country fully supports Ukraine, by allocating funds for military and humanitarian aid, in full accordance with the decisions of the Government of the Slovak Republic.
Recent Contacts (2022)
February 4, 2022 - phone call between President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President of the Slovak Republic Zuzana Čaputová.
February 7-8, 2022 – joint working visit by foreign ministers from Austria, the Czech Republic and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of SR Ivan Korčok to Ukraine.
February 21, 2022 - phone call between President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Eduard Heger.
March 10, 2022 - phone call between President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President of the Slovak Republic Zuzana Čaputová.
April 8, 2022 - visit of Prime Minister of the SR Eduard Heger to Ukraine (Kyiv, Bucha).
May 10, 2022 – video-address of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the National Council of the Slovak Republic.
May 12, 2022 - phone call between the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the President of the Slovak Republic Zuzana Čaputová.
June 1, 2022 - visit of President of the Slovak Republic Zuzana Čaputová to Ukraine (Kyiv, Irpin, Borodyanka), address in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
June 2, 2022 - the participation of Vice-Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olga Stefanishyna at the XVII International Security Forum "GLOBSEC-2022" (June 2, 2022, Bratislava) and bilateral meetings on its sidelines with President of SR Zuzana Čaputová, Prime Minister of the SR Eduard Heger.
June 13, 2022 - phone call between the Presidents of Ukraine, Slovakia and Poland to discuss the joint steps of granting Ukraine EU candidate status.
June 21, 2022 – a phone conversation between President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Eduard Heger.
2. Trade and economic cooperation:
As of official statistical data of Ukraine, according to the results of trade in goods and services between Ukraine and Slovakia in 2021, the total turnover amounted to 2,005.4 million dollars. USA and compared to 2020 increased by 338.8 million US dollars, or by 20.3%. At the same time, the export of goods and services from Ukraine to Slovakia amounted to 1,045.5 million dollars. USA, while imports amounted to 959.9 million dollars. USA. The positive balance for Ukraine during this period amounted to 85.6 million dollars. USA. The results of trade and economic cooperation between Ukraine and the Slovak Republic in 2021 demonstrated a record growth in the indicators of trade turnover over the past 15 years.
According to the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, the volume of trade in goods between Ukraine and Slovakia amounted to 1,922.5 million dollars. USA and increased, compared to 2020, by 332.2 million dollars. USA, or by 20.8%. At the same time, the export of goods from Ukraine to Slovakia amounted to 999.3 million dollars. USA and increased by 123.7%; import of Slovak goods to Ukraine amounted to 923 million dollars. USA and decreased by 19.3%. The positive balance for Ukraine during this period amounted to 76.3 million dollars. USA. The share of export of goods from Ukraine to Slovakia in the total export of Ukraine is 1.46%, the share of import of goods from Slovakia to Ukraine in the total import of Ukraine is 1.26%.
According to the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, in 2021 the volume of trade in services between Ukraine and Slovakia amounted to 83 million dollars. of the USA and increased, compared to 2020, by 6.6 million dollars. USA or by 8.6%. At the same time, the export of services from Ukraine to Slovakia amounted to 46.2 million dollars. USA and decreased by 11.8%; the import of Slovak services to Ukraine amounted to 36.8 million dollars. USA and increased by 53.1%. The positive balance for Ukraine during this period amounted to 9.4 million dollars. USA. The share of export of services from Ukraine to Slovakia in the total export of Ukraine is 0.35%, the share of import of services from Slovakia to Ukraine in the total import of Ukraine is 0.48%.
As of January 1, 2022, direct Slovak investments in Ukraine (balances under instruments) amounted to USD 280.7 million (since January 1, 2020, statistical data are calculated by the National Bank of Ukraine); at the same time, the share of direct Slovak investments in the total volume of direct foreign investments in the economy of Ukraine is 0.45%. Information on the volume of Ukrainian investments in the economy of Slovakia is confidential in accordance with the Law of Ukraine "On State Statistics".
3. Cultural and humanitarian cooperation:
Cultural and humanitarian relations between Ukraine and Slovakia are traditionally characterized by positive dynamics and well-established interaction.
The Treaty Legal Framework of cooperation in this area consists of a number of bilateral documents, including: Agreement between the Ministry of Culture and Arts of Ukraine and the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic on cooperation in the field of culture dated 01.23.1996; Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Slovak Republic on cooperation in the field of information dated 12.05.2000.
To promote the development of humanitarian cooperation, the Bilateral Ukrainian-Slovak Commission on National Minorities, Education and Culture, which is a permanent body, was created. The next meeting of the Commission is scheduled for the second half of 2022.
More than 30 agreements and contracts have been concluded between higher educational institutions of Ukraine and Slovakia.
In Slovakia, there are 7 educational institutions at various levels of education where the Ukrainian language and literature are taught, in particular the Gymnasium named by T.G.Shevchenko in Pryashiv. Also, Pryashiv University provides graduation of specialists on specialty "Ukrainian language" in conjunction with other specialties. In 2018, a Ukrainian Sunday school was established and registered in Bratislava, which rents premises at a secondary school. Also, at secondary schools of the city of Kosice and the village Ublya, there are a special group to study the Ukrainian language and literature.
The most numerous and representative organization of Ukrainians abroad in Slovakia is the Union of Ruthenians-Ukrainians of the Slovak Republic, which includes 100 primary organizations and within which 36 collectives of folk art of various genres operate. There are more than 4,000 members of the Union.
Other Ukrainian public organizations operate in Slovakia: the Slovak-Ukrainian Society, the Ukrainian Music and Dramatic Ensemble named by Taras Shevchenko, Union of Ukrainian Writers of Slovakia, "PLAST" Scout Union of Ukrainian-Rusyn nationality in Slovakia, etc. One of the important Ukrainian scientific and cultural institution is the Museum of Ukrainian Culture in Svydnyk, which is a branch of the National Museum of Slovakia.
On October 25, 2013, the Center of Ukrainian Culture was opened in Pryashiv, which became a reliable basis for conducting scientific, educational, artistic and other activities for the Ukrainian national minority in Slovakia.
Since 2014, the annual "Days of Ukraine in Kosice" are held in the Slovak Republic on an annual basis.
The Union of Ruthenians-Ukrainians of the Slovak Republic and the Union of Ukrainian Writers of Slovakia have their own periodicals, which are published in the Ukrainian language: Newspaper "Nove zhitya" (published since 1951); magazine "Duklya" (published since 1953); Children's magazine "Rainbow" (published since 1951). In addition, the Ukrainian edition of programs for national minorities of Slovak Radio operates in Košice.
Since the beginning of Russian aggression against Ukraine, the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic has stopped cooperation with Russian cultural institutions.
The Ministry of Culture of Slovakia also appealed to UNESCO to cancell holding the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee in Kazan and to suspend Russia's membership in UNESCO.
In Slovakia, the propaganda media Russia Today, the news agency Sputnik and the pro-Kremlin website Hlavné spravy ("Main News") were blocked.
On June 29, 2022, upon the invitation of the Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine Oleksandr Tkachenko, Natalia Milanovа, the Minister of Culture of the Slovak Republic took part at the meeting of ministers of Central and Eastern Europe and the Baltic countries in Lviv. The participants signed a joint declaration, which reflects interests of mutual development and cooperation. They also condemned russia’s actions towards destroying the cultural heritage and values in Ukraine.
4. Scientific and technical cooperation:
The Treaty and Legal basis of scientific and technical cooperation between Ukraine and the Slovak Republic in this area is:
- Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Slovak Republic on scientific and technological cooperation dated 12.02.2002 (http://zakon3.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/703_020 );
- Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Slovak Republic on economic, industrial and scientific-technical cooperation dated November 24, 2005 (http://zakon3.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/703_058);
- Agreement between the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of Ukraine and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Slovak Republic on economic, scientific, technical and production cooperation dated 05.14.1993 (http://zakon3.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/703_033);
- Agreement on scientific cooperation between the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the Slovak Academy of Sciences from 2004 to 2005-2009, the term of which has been extended.
In the framework of the official visit of the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Eduard Heger to Ukraine on May 28, 2021, the parties agreed to intensify the work of the Ukrainian-Slovak Joint Commission on Economic, Industrial, and Scientific and Technical Cooperation after the lifting of quarantine restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A number of meetings with the Center for Scientific and Technical Information of the SR, the Academy of Sciences of the SR, Trade and Industry Chamber of Bratislava, Scientific University Parks of Bratislava were held within the visit of a delegation of the Ukrainian Institute of Scientific and Technical Expertise and Information to the Slovak Republic (12 – 15 October 2021). A wide range of issues such as cooperation on the exchange of scientific and technical information, the transfer of technologies and innovations, joint events in the specified field of activity, etc. was discussed.
5. Bilateral agreements between Ukraine and Slovakia
The Treaty and Legal Framework of Ukrainian-Slovak Bilateral Relations consists of 117 treaties.
The existing bilateral agreements cover various areas of cooperation that signifies the diversity and multilateralism of Ukrainian-Slovak relations.
The sides are negotiating a number of draft international bilateral treaties, in particular in the sphere of scientific and technical cooperation, labor migration and social security of citizens, cooperation in combating crime.
A diverse range of cooperation characterizes Ukrainian-Slovak regional collaboration, in particular in the economic, social, cultural and humanitarian spheres.
The cooperation between twins cities/regions of Ukraine and Slovakia, which signed the respective agreements on the establishment of twinning relations, in particular between the capitals of our states - Kyiv and Bratislava plays an important role in this field.
The process of extending and deepening interregional relations is constantly ongoing. Thus, in March 2021 (in online format), an Agreement on Cooperation between the Chernihiv Regional State Administration and the Trenchyn Self-Governing Region was signed.
As part of these activities concerning the establishing cooperation between local municipalities of Ukraine and Slovakia, on 2021, the preparatory work for concluding an cooperation agreement between the city of Vyshhorod (Kyiv region) and Lamach, which is a part of Bratislava is underway. In 2022, in order to find a partner city for some Ukrainian cities, in particular: the city of Kalush, the city of Yuzhnoukrainian and the city of Varash, the consultations between the two sides have begun.
On the territory of Ukraine and Slovakia, various joint events, such as scientific and practical conferences, seminars on mutual interests, and Ukrainian-Slovak days of good neighbourhood, are constantly organised. Both countries take an active part in various projects of international cross-border cooperation.
On October 26-27, 2021, the delegation of Ukraine, led by Deputy Minister of Community and Territorial Development, National Coordinator of the Danube Strategy Ihor Korkhov took part at the 10th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region in Bratislava
On October 27, in the framework of this Forum, the handover ceremony of the Presidency of the Danube Strategy from Slovakia to Ukraine took plaace.
This is the first time ever that a non-EU country, takes over the Presidency of an EU Strategy for the Danube Region and coordinates the activities of 14 countries of the Danube River basin, as well as the implementation of EU strategic initiatives in this region (from November 1, 2021 to October 31, 2022).
UKRAINE AND TÜRKİYE
Bilateral relations.
Longstanding relations between Ukraine and Türkiye are founded on a shared historical legacy, cultural links, and geographical reality.
In 1991, Türkiye was one of the first nations to acknowledge Ukrainian independence. On 3 February 1992, diplomatic ties between the two countries were established.
When the Declaration on Establishing a High-Level Strategic Council (HLSC) was signed in 2011, cooperation between our countries intensified considerably. This declaration codified the strategic partnership between Ukraine and Türkiye and established an institutional vehicle to implement the new format of bilateral relations, namely the Strategic Council co-chaired by the presidents of both nations. The HLSC is expected to convene yearly to review the implementation of the agreements and to identify prospective areas and projects for fostering further cooperation.
During the period from 2011 to 2022, the Ukrainian and Turkish presidents had ten sessions of the HLSC devoted to the entire range of bilateral cooperation, including political discourse, economic, defense, security, and humanitarian cooperation. In February 2022, the last HLSC conference was conducted in Kyiv.
The Ukrainian and Turkish Foreign Ministers meet frequently, particularly through the Joint Strategic Planning Group, which is a supporting mechanism of HLSC (the most recent such meeting was held in Lviv, Ukraine, on 7 October 2021).
As the security situation in the Black Sea region deteriorated due to the aggressive policies of the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Türkiye established a new format for political and security dialogue in 2020, consisting of regular 2+2 consultations in Quadriga format between their foreign and defense ministers. In December of 2020, the first gathering in this format took place in Kyiv.
Türkiye has been unequivocally supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity since the beginning of the Russian aggression in 2014 and undertaking consistent steps in line with its policy of non-recognition of the illegal attempted annexation of Crimea.
During the Russian invasion in 2022, Türkiye has called upon the end of the hostilities, expressed its support to Ukraine and took an important step by blocking the passage of all military ships via the Black Sea straits.
Bilateral agreements.
Ukraine and Türkiye have 154 bilateral agreements in effect. Among the most significant agreements are the Agreement on Friendship and Cooperation (1992), the Joint Declaration on the Establishment of the High-Level Strategic Council (2011), and the Free Trade Agreement (2022, pending ratification by the parliaments).
Economic cooperation.
The total value of trade between Ukraine and Türkiye in 2021 was USD 7.4 billion, comprised of USD 4.143 billion in Ukrainian exports and USD 3.258 billion in Turkish exports.
Multilateral cooperation.
Ukraine and Türkiye actively collaborate within the framework of international organizations, (UN, OSCE, WTO, BSEC etc.) and engage in fruitful dialogue inside the NATO context.