Milan Ezhevitsa, Konstantin Gryshchenko, Ivan Gasparovic and Viktor Yanukovych

Minister of foreign affairs of Ukraine Konstantin Grischenko, right, and secretary of the state of Slovakia Milan of Ezhevitsa during the ceremony of signing of bilateral documents about abolition of consulage, in Kiev, on Wednesday, October 6, 2010. President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych and President of the Republic of Slovakia Ivan Gašparovič held a tête-a-tête meeting in Kyiv. Welcoming his Slovak colleague in Kyiv, Viktor Yanukovych thanked him for accepting an invitation to visit Ukraine that the Head of state made during a telephone conversation in March.“Your visit signals about strengthening of our good neighborly relations. I am convinced that we share a desire to foster our interstate affairs,” the President of Ukraine said. The Head of state noted that Ukraine and Slovakia have a good record of relations, which is the basis for their further enhancement. On his part, the President of the Republic of Slovakia underlined that he was pleased to receive from his Ukrainian colleague an invitation to visit Ukraine. “Our genetics are kindred, our Slavic roots are common. The Ukrainian and Slovak languages are congenial, the same is about our culture. All this determines cooperation between our countries,” I. Gašparovič said about traditionally friendly relations between Ukraine and Slovakia. He pointed out that Slovakia watches closely the events in Ukraine and is glad for its success: “If Ukraine has a success, we are rejoicing at it. I guess you think the same.” In the President of Slovakia’s opinion, there is an immense capacity for expanding ties between our countries, holding a dialogue and developing cooperation. Photo by Mikhail Markiv / POOL / UNIAN