Ukrainian President Yushchenko To Take Part In The World Economic Forum Forum In Davos

KIEV, Ukraine -- Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko is departing on Wednesday for Davos (Switzerland) on a three-day working visit to take part in the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, the president’s press service reported.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko
Yushchenko will take part in two session of the WEF that will focus on “Pipeline Politics” and “Human Rights on the Global Agenda.”

The Ukrainian president is expected to hold a number of bilateral meetings during the visit. Among issues that Yushchenko intends to touch upon during a conversation with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is the “road map” of bilateral relations, calendar of the two states’ contacts for 2008 and Ukraine’s joining the NATO membership action plan.

The Ukrainian leader plans to discuss with Azerbaijani President Ilkham Aliyev energy issues, in particular, the Energy Forum that is to be held in Kiev in May 2008.

Yushchenko is also expected to meet President of Nigeria Umaru Yar'Adua and President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai and Malaysian Prime Minister Ahmad Badawi.

During the talks the sides will discuss issues of bilateral relations and economic and trade cooperation.

The Ukrainian president also plans to hold meetings with the leaders of international organisations, in particular, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Jean Lemierre, Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Pascal Lamy, NYSE Chief Executive Officer Duncan Niederauer.

The Ukrainian president also plans a meeting with leader of the British Conservative Party David Cameron.

Besides, Viktor Yushchenko will take part in a special section – Ukrainian Lunch in Davos.

The participation of Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko in the Davos forum is attracting special attention this year.

This attention is caused not only because the country has been experiencing serious political disturbances in recent years, but also by the fact that the forum is held simultaneously with the World Trade Organisation’s expected decision on Ukraine’s admission to the WTO. The WTO is to make the decision on January 25.

Source: ITAR-TASS