( ForUm ) - President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko and President of Hungary Laszlo Solyom chaired Ukrainian-Hungarian talks in Budapest, as President's press office informs.
Yushchenko said Ukraine's trade with Hungary was developing fast (USD 2 bln in 2006) and suggested that both states "rationalize" theirpartnershipin 2007 and sign agreements regulating humanitarian and procedural issues.
The President commended Hungary for supporting Ukraine's bid to join the European Union and thanked the Hungarian government for its "effective cooperation" with the local Ukrainian community. He praised the Hungarian National Assembly for being the world's first legislative body to recognize the Great Famine 0f 1932-1933 as genocide.
Hungary's Laszlo Solyom described Ukraine as an "important strategic partner." He reassured his colleague Hungary would support Ukraine's EU policy and welcome its enhanced cooperation agreement with the European Union. Solyom accepted Yushchenko's invitation to visit Ukraine, its capital Kyiv and Zakarpatya region, in 2008.
Foreign Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Culture and Tourism Minister Yuriy Bohutsky, First Deputy Energy Minister Vadym Chuprun, Border Service Head Mykola Lytvyn, Customs Service Head Olexander Yehorov and Deputy Secretariat Chief of Staff Olexander Chalyy participated in the talks.