Danish FM Samuelsen: It is strategically important for Denmark and whole Europe that Ukraine succeeds in reforms, and it needs international support for that
21 February 2018 17:55
“It is strategically important for Denmark and whole Europe that Ukraine succeeds in reforms, and to this end it needs necessary international support”, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark Anders Samuelsen said on 21 February in Kyiv after negotiations with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin.
Support for Ukraine by Denmark in conducting internal reforms was one of the main topics of the negotiations. Pavlo Klimkin expressed his gratitude to the Danish Colleague for the decision of the Government of Denmark to hold the second International Ukraine Reform Conference in Copenhagen on 27 June (first such conference was held in summer of 2017 in London). In this regard Ministers Pavlo Klimkin and Anders Samuelsen made symbolic signing of the joint invitation, addressed to colleagues from other countries and leaders of international organisations to participate in the mentioned event.
Pavlo Klimkin highly praised the efforts of Denmark regarding Ukraine in solving actual security challenges in the context of countering the Russian aggression and significant practical assistance in conducting reforms.
In his turn Anders Samuelsen officially announced the launch of the realisation of the new five year “Danish Neighbourhood Programme” (DANEP), in the framework of which a number of assistance projects in the spheres of human rights, democracy and sustainable economic development in total amount of 65 million USD will be implemented.
Both Ministers positively characterized the dynamics of the trade and economic relations, in particular increase of the bilateral trade in 2017 up to 14%, as well as expressed hope for further increase of the Danish investment in view of the ascending indicators in 2017.
Ministers also paid great attention to discussion of the situation in the contest of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. Anders Samuelsen stressed that Denmark will further consider occupation of Crimea and areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions by Russia as brutal violation of the international law and will insist that international sanctions against Russia should remain until Moscow returns in the international legal framework.
Ministers Pavlo Klimkin and Anders Samuelsen also exchanged thoughts regarding the steps of the European commission on counteraction to construction of the gas pipeline Nord Stream-2 by Russia.
