( ForUm ) - President Viktor Yushchenko and his Slovak counterpart, Ivan Gasparovic, held talks in Bratislava on Thursday, President's press office reports.
Yushchenko said at a joint press conference after the talks border issues were at the top of Ukraine and Slovakia's cooperation agenda and added that the two countries planned to sign a border passing agreement, which will enable those Ukrainians and Slovaks that live close to the border to travel to Ukraine or Slovakia with no visas.
When asked about results of today's talks, the leaders said they had spoken about how to develop bilateral ties. Yushchenko said both countries were satisfied with their political, economic, trade and humanitarian dialogue, "its intensity and dynamics." He said their priority was to develop energy ties and educational cooperation. Healso pledged to resolve problems at Ukraine's Kryvy Rig Ore Mining and Processing Plant in a transparent manner.
Yushchenko and Gasparovic also discussed national minority issues. The Ukrainian leader gave his colleague declassified files with the names of the Slovaks that had died in Ukraine between 1944 and 1954.
Then they spoke about recent developments in Ukraine. Gasparovic congratulated Ukraine on holding last month's parliamentary elections in line with democratic standards and promised to support its bid to join the European Union.
Yushchenko invited the Slovak leader to visit his country, expressing hopes his visit will be "very productive."