19.06.2003 # 29

President Leonid Kuchma of Ukraine and Turkey's President Ahmet Necdet Sezer have discussed Ukrainian-Turkish cooperation within international organizations. Kuchma announced this at a joint press conference with Sezer at the end of their talks. Kuchma and Sezer noted the high level of cooperation between Ukraine and Turkey within the United Nations Organization, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Council of Europe, and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization. Kuchma and Sezer also discussed the current international situation, particularly the situation involving post-war reconstruction of Iraq, in which they both agreed that the United Nations Organization should actively participate. Kuchma and Sezer also discussed Ukrainian-Turkish bilateral cooperation in fighting terrorism, organized crime, and drug trafficking.

Ukraine and Turkey have given to each other land parcels in Kyiv and Ankara for the buildings of their diplomatic missions. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Anatolii Zlenko and the ambassador of Turkey to Ukraine Ali Bilge Djankorel signed the corresponding protocol between the Cabinet of Ministers and the Government of Turkey on exchange of land parcels. According to the protocol, the Turkish side will render into the ownership of Ukraine a land parcel in the diplomatic quarter of Oran in Ankara with all the necessary infrastructure. For its part, Ukraine will transfer into the ownership of Turkey a land parcel in Kyiv at the intersections of Strutynskoho, Kurhanivska Streets and the Druzhby Narodiv Boulevard. Such land parcels will be used exclusively for construction of premises, chancellery, residences, and residential premises for the diplomatic, administrative and technical personnel, and also the necessary annexes of the diplomatic missions of both countries.

Ukraine's National Institute of Strategic Research and the Center for Strategic Research under the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs have agreed to cooperate in the area of scientific research. The relevant memorandum provides for exchange of information during conduct of research, exchange of scientific publications, conduct of joint research, seminars, and roundtables, as well as exchange of experts.

Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Volodymyr Lytvyn is calling for the creation of a Ukrainian-Turkish inter-parliamentary assembly with the aim of activating cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries. He disclosed this in the course of his meeting with the President of Turkey, Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Lytvyn recalled that in parliament there is a deputy group for promoting the friendship of Ukraine and Turkey, which Mr.Refat Chubarov heads and this group consists of 40 deputies. "We have every grounds to speak about the need for creation on the foundation of friendship groups of an inter-parliamentary assembly," Lytvyn said. In the words of Lytvyn, the assembly should work on a permanent basis and promote the expansion of mutual relations between the countries. Sezer also extended an invitation to Lytvyn on behalf of the speaker of the Turkish parliament to pay a visit to Turkey for holding of meetings with the authorities.