OREANDA-NEWS. July 04, 2011. President Viktor Yanukovych and President Serzh Sargsyan have held a joint press conference following the Ukrainian-Armenian talks.

"We are convinced that we have a huge potential of untapped opportunities," the President of Ukraine said, emphasizing also the importance of stirring up the work of the Ukrainian-Armenian Commission on Economic Cooperation.

An integral part of strengthening Ukrainian-Armenian relations the President also called joint business forums, at which the ways of interaction are studied and practical solutions to specific issues of cooperation between the two countries and their trade-economic ties are being elaborated.

"Today’s discussion of a broad range of questions, I am sure, will yield the intensification of our relations," Viktor Yanukovych said, praising the atmosphere of trust and mutual respect of today's talks.

The parties have also exchanged views on some international issues, he said. The President of Ukraine has expressed hope for a more active discussion of the prospects of resolving international security issues in view of the current presidency of Ukraine in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and our country’s future presidency of the OSCE (in 2013).

According to the President, the Ukrainian-Armenian cooperation potential is not fully realized inter alia because of the need to expand that cooperation’s legal base. "We will continue this work aimed at achieving through joint effort the main goal – overcoming the economic crisis in our countries, ensuring economic growth, and increasing the prosperity of our peoples on its basis," he said.

The sides have dedicated particular attention to the question of developing energy cooperation, President Yanukovych said. "Ukraine has been a traditional partner of Armenia in the development and construction of power generating facilities, including thermal power stations, and small and medium-sized hydropower plants," Viktor Yanukovych said.

According to the President, the parties have separately noted positive prospects for deepening humanitarian cooperation. "We make every effort to provide for the spiritual needs of Armenians of Ukraine and preservation of Armenian culture," he said.

He also called symbolic the fact that during his Armenian counterpart’ visit to Ukraine the Days of Armenian Culture will be held in Kyiv and Odesa."Next year, I hope, we will be able to worthy present Ukrainian culture in Armenia," Viktor Yanukovych added.

President Serzh Sargsyan, in turn, expressed satisfaction with the results of the negotiations.

He noted that the agenda of Ukrainian-Armenian cooperation "has always been and remains very busy." "We are confident that strong economic ties are stimulating the development of bilateral relations in all other areas," the President of Armenia said.

Although trade turnover between the countries has slightly decreased due to the global economic crisis, he said, there are now all signals and reason to believe that by the end of this year or early next year it will reach its pre-crisis levels.

Serzh Sargsyan reiterated Armenia's readiness to further expand cooperation with Ukraine on the international scene, primarily in the framework of the OSCE, CIS, EU, BSEC and other international and regional organizations. "I am sure it lies in the interest of both Armenia and Ukraine," Serzh Sargsyan said.

He expressed confidence that the bilateral documents signed today will promote further development of Ukrainian-Armenian partnership.

Serzh Sargsyan noted that the parties are satisfied with the development of humanitarian contacts between Armenia and Ukraine. He noted that the Days of Armenian Culture start today in Ukraine, which will include holding various cultural events. "We have the Days of Ukrainian Culture scheduled for next year in Armenia. I am sure they represent an excellent form of maintaining the existing ties and developing the new ones between the scientific and creative intellectuals of both countries," he said.

Serzh Sargsyan has also invited the President of Ukraine to visit Armenia.