Before setting off today on a 2-day official visit to Ukraine, foreign minister Mikulas Dzurinda made it clear that Slovakia stood fully behind Ukraine’s EU accession efforts.
Dzurinda said that Ukraine belonged to Europe, but that entry to the EU was not some kind of gift and that strict criteria had to be met and concessions made. He said he plans on his visit to encourage Ukraine on its road to accession.
Dzurinda will be meeting government and opposition representatives in Kiev on what is his first official visit to the country since becoming foreign minister last year. In addition to Ukraine’s EU aspirations, the agenda will include mutual trade agreements, potential waiving of visa requirements, economic co-operation and energy issues.