Visit to Japan by Mr. Kostyantyn Gryschenko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

- The New Phase of developing Japan-Ukraine Relations -

June 11, 2004

Mr. Kostyantyn Gryschenko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, made his first visit in his post to Japan from June 8 to 11, 2004. On June 10, Mr. Gryschenko had a meeting with Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan. The two Ministers exchanged views in a congenial atmosphere on the bilateral relations and issues facing the international community, such as WTO accession of Ukraine, assistance for denuclearization in Ukraine, environmental issues and the situation in Iraq and North Korea. Two ministers also signed an "Agreement on Technical Cooperation and Grant Assistance". Through this ministerial meeting, the relationship between the two countries has been reinforced and the possibility of future cooperation has been expanded. Mr. Gryschenko also had meetings with Mr. Takeo Kawamura, Minister for Education, Culture, Sports and Technology, Mr. Shigeru Ishiba, Minister of State for Defense, and Mr. Kyosuke Shinozawa, Governor of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and others.

Mr. Gryschenko visited Nagasaki as the first high-ranking official from Ukraine which severely suffered from the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident and offered flowers in the Hypo Center.
Outcome of the Ministerial Meeting

(1) Agreement or progress on following four points:

(i) Agreement on Technical Cooperation and Grant Assistance
Both Ministers signed an "Agreement on Technical Cooperation and Grant Assistance". The Agreement will contribute to smoother and more effective implementation of future economic assistance from Japan to Ukraine.

(ii) Significant progress of bilateral negotiations for WTO accession
Both sides welcomed the recent progress of the economic relationship between the two countries. They also recognized the considerable progress of bilateral negotiations for Ukraine's WTO accession and agreed to accelerate the process for the conclusion of the negotiations.

(iii) Assistance for denuclearization and Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident
The two ministers shared the view that it is important that the two countries, which not only share a common experience as radiation victims but also have a non-nuclear policy, strengthen their cooperation on these issues in the international community. Regarding assistance related to the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident, Minister Kawaguchi referred to Japan's intention of continuous support.

(iv) Kyoto Protocol Mechanism
Foreign Minister Kawaguchi welcomed the Government of Ukraine's ratification of the Kyoto Protocol in February 2004 and the two Ministers agreed on future cooperation in the framework of the Kyoto Mechanism.

(2) In the context of the Japanese principles of supporting the Ukrainian's democratization and its transition to a market economy, Minister Kawaguchi said that Japan has a great interest in the process of the presidential election scheduled to be held in October 2004 and the Ukrainian side expressed its intention of holding the election in a free, fair and transparent manner.

(3) International issues
The two Ministers exchanged views on international and regional affairs. In particular, they reaffirmed the necessity of concerted international cooperation for the reconstruction of Iraq to which Japan and Ukraine have dispatched personnel. On North Korea, they exchanged views on the importance of resolving issues based on the fact that Ukraine has taken a decision for denuclearization.
Mr. Gryschenko's visit to Japan came about in the context of continuous political dialogue between Japan and Ukraine, after Ms. Kawaguchi made her official visit to Ukraine in 2003 and had several talks with Ukrainian officials.
Through the above-mentioned outcome, the visit has reinforced and expanded the partnership between the two countries and elevated the bilateral relationship to a new phase.

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