Viktor Yanukovich and Nicolas Sarkozy

President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovich, left, and President of France Nicolas Sarkozy during in Paris (France), on Thursday, October 7, 2010. Viktor Yanukovich is on a working visit in Paris. President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych met with President of France Nicolas Sarkozy. “Consider us your friends,” with these words Nicolas Sarkozy began a meeting with Viktor Yanukovych pointing out that “as friends the Frenchmen are ready to support you in your strategic directions.” The President of Ukraine reciprocated his feelings by saying that Ukraine and France have become more alike since Ukraine approached the same form of government as France on October 1. Then the Presidents proceeded to specific issues of enhancing bilateral relations, lifting trade barriers, strengthening power safety. The sides also discussed so popular in Europe Sarkozy’s idea about creation of common security and economic area between the EU and Russia. President Sarkozy asked President Yanukovych whether Ukraine shares this idea and how it would position itself in this common security and economic area. The President of Ukraine also invited his French colleague to participate in the 2011 international conference dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Chornobyl disaster. Photo by Mikhail Markiv / POOL / UNIAN