Interfax-Ukraine cited Mr Viktor Yanukovych president of Ukraine as saying that Ukraine wants to expand trade and economic cooperation with Greece.

He said at a meeting with his Greek counterpart Mr Karolos Papoulias in Athens on Sunday that "Ukraine is interested in expanding bilateral trade and economic cooperation with Greece, the figures of which have decreased to some extent as a result of the global financial crisis."

Mr Yanukovych said that Ukraine and Greece should make efforts to ensure that the global economic crisis has no negative impact on their investment cooperation. In his opinion, such cooperation does not currently correspond to the potential that can be offered by Ukraine.

Mr Yanukovych said that the experience of Greek companies that were involved in the implementation of projects as part of preparations for the 2004 Olympics in Athens might be useful for Ukraine. He noted that Ukrainian companies had a great experience in designing and constructing oil and gas pipelines and could have been involved as subcontractors in the implementation of such projects in Greece.

Mr Yanukovych believes that cooperation in engineering, shipbuilding, and in the sphere of renewable energy sources is also promising. Mr Papoulias, in turn, thanked Mr Yanukovych for paying attention to the Greek Diaspora in Ukraine.

He said that "You really help both Ukraine and Greece. It's very important, because tens of thousands of Greek citizens currently live in Ukraine, strengthening the cordial relations between our countries."

(Sourced from Interfax-Ukraine)