New dimension

Ukrainian-American relations gain new economic dimension: the sides are moving from declarations to practice. Proof of this is the first in recent seven years visit of US President George Bush to Ukraine. Two important agreements and two contracts were signed yesterday with relation to the visit of the American president to Kyiv. As Ukrainian Ambassador to the US Oleh Shamshur has admitted, signing of the agreement on cooperation in research and usage of cosmic space is the fact of recognition of not only Ukraine’s potential, but also Ukraine’s capacities in the sphere of science and high technologies. In particular, this agreement envisages that Ukrainian march complexes will be applied for launching of American satellites.

“Another agreement on trade and investment cooperation is a wonderful example showing a concrete meaning of Ukraine’s accession to the WTO. This agreement must be a rather powerful impetus for cooperation and liberalization of corresponding procedures. Besides, it will help to attract American investments to Ukrainian economy.”

In his opinion, as well important are the contracts signed between the Enerhoatom Company and American Westinhouse Company concerning supplying for South-Ukrainian Nuclear Power and between the Enerhoatom Company and Halltex Company which refers to realization of the project concerning construction of depository for spent fuel from Ukrainian nuclear power plants. Whereas the first contract is a step forward to diversification of Ukraine’s energy sources, the second one meets our concept and attempts to further develop safe atomic energy, Shamshur explained.

The Ukrainian ambassador considers that Bush’s visit is symbolic not for the reason that it is taking place after a long break, but also because it is taking place under new conditions.