Yuschenko, Rahmon meet in Kyiv

11:51

An official meeting ceremony between Ukrainian President Viktor Yuschenko and his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rahmon took place in Kyiv on Thursday.

Yuschenko met Rahmon on the square in front of his secretariat, the press service of the Ukrainian president reported.

A military band performed the anthems of the two states, and a traditional 21-gun salute was fired. The presidents inspected the Guard of Honor, and the ceremony then closed with the official introduction of the Ukrainian and Tajik delegations.

The leaders of the two countries then started a tete-a-tete meeting at Horodetsky House.

Yuschenko praised the development of bilateral economic relations, particularly in the energy sector.

"We are ready to continue developing our cooperation," he said.

He also said that bilateral trade "shows that we have colossal potential" for economic cooperation. Yuschenko said that Ukraine is an "open partner" for Tajikistan and is ready to discuss all issues of cooperation.

Following the meeting between Yuschenko and Rahmon, Ukrainian-Tajik delegations will then hold extended talks. The sides are scheduled to focus on the agreements reached during Yuschenko's official visit to Tajikistan in March this year, as well as consider the implementation of the Ukraine-Tajikistan Action Plan for 2008-2009.

A number of agreements are also to be signed.

The Tajik president is on an official visit to Ukraine on December 3-5.