Diplomatic exchange

Kostiantyn Hryshchenko, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, met with Thorbjorn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, in Strasbourg. He informed him about Ukraine’s CE chairmanship priorities. Hrysh­chen­ko later told journalists that Uk­raine’s main priorities would have everything to do with protection of children, human rights, rule of law, and stronger local self-government. “The Council of Europe’s mission is very important for us,” declarded Hryshchenko, adding that Ukraine was interested not only in matters pertaining to itself, but also in other problems in Europe. Jagland promised to follow the local elections in Ukraine closely: “We have discussed this issue, we keep monitoring the situation and we have the means to do so.”

Hryshchenko said the Ukrainian government had invited all the pertinent international organizations to monitor these elections, and that President Yanukovych had undertaken to see to it that these elections be held on a transparent, bona fide basis.