Ukraine and Croatia should work harder on overcoming consequences of crisis, says Yuschenko

17:26

The financial and economic crisis negatively influenced trade between Ukraine and Croatia in 2009, Ukrainian President Viktor Yuschenko and speaker of the parliament of the Republic of Croatia Luka Bebic noted during their meeting in Kyiv on Tuesday, the presidential press service reported.

Yuschenko noted prospects for the realization of mutually beneficial projects as part of Ukraine's preparation for the Euro 2012 European Football Championship.

The president stressed that the political dialog between Ukraine and Croatia has a dynamic character.

"We have excellent mutual policy that we can be proud of," Yuschenko said.

According to the president, Ukraine wants to exchange experience in adopting EU standards and developing a policy of European integration.

"I would like to ask your country to support this policy in every way," Yuschenko said.

Yuschenko said Ukraine has a positive dynamic of relations with the EU, and on the eve of the next summit it is close to signing an association agreement and creating a free trade zone.

Yuschenko paid special attention to the issue of the further liberalization of the visa regime between Ukraine and Croatia.

The Ukrainian president also asked Croatia to support Ukraine's efforts for the Holodomor famine of 1932-1933 in Ukraine to be recognized as genocide and for this tragic event to be discussed in the parliament of Croatia.