Ukraine and
Turkey express readiness to intensify the implementation of joint projects in areas
that pose mutual interest - energy, aviation and military-technical
cooperation. This
was stated during a meeting of Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr
Groysman with the Minister of Interior of Turkey Mr.
Süleyman Soylu.
The negotiations
took place within the framework of the Kyiv Security Forum, which is a major
international platform for discussing the most urgent issues of development of
Ukraine and the entire region.
The Head of
Government stressed that Ankara's constructive stand in support of the
territorial integrity of our state, the refusal to recognize the occupation of Crimea
and the protection of the rights and interests of citizens of Ukraine - the
Crimean Tatars – is vitally important for official Kyiv. And
the efforts of the two countries to strengthen the economic aspect of
cooperation are equally important.
"Our
relations are quite vigorous, Turkey is our strategic partner. And enhanced
cooperation in the trade and economic spheres is among the key prerequisites
for the successful development of our strategic partnership", stressed Volodymyr Groysman.
In turn Mr.
Süleyman Soylu said, "Our relations with Ukraine have
been based and still base on partnership and solidarity. We live in difficult
time when we must keep feet firmly on the ground and be together. We must
continue our cooperation".
Background
In 2017, trade
turnover between Ukraine and Turkey grew by 20.1% and reached $ 3.78 billion
with a surplus of $ 1.26 billion. These days in Ankara, the Ukrainian-Turkish Intergovernmental
Commission for Trade and Economic Cooperation is having a meeting during which
there will be worked out practical solutions for further development of trade
and economic collaboration.