In order to enhance bilateral cooperation between Ukraine and Hungary, the Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov proposes to hold the first quarter of 2011 a session of the Intergovernmental Ukrainian-Hungarian commission, according to the Department of Information and Communications of the Secretariat of the CMU. The Head of Ukrainian Government said that during his meeting with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Hungary Viktor Orban.
"I suggest to hold such a meeting the first quarter, and to consider at this meeting the whole range of issues" - Mykola Azarov said. The Prime Minister of Hungary supported the proposal and agreed to hold a meeting in Kiev.
According to Mykola Azarov, the parties may intensify the bilateral relations by joint projects in transport, particularly in the "Danube Initiative". Moreover, Mykola Azarov considers possible participation of Hungary in the construction of broad-gauge railway from Russia to Austria, high-speed express train Budapest-Zakarpattya.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister of Ukraine proposed the Hungarian side to create a joint checkpoints on the border of Ukraine and Hungary for freight and passenger service between Budapest and the towns of Zakarpattya: "Our common objective is to establish the checkpoints at the borders." He noted that there is an agreement with Russian leaders on the creation of joint checkpoints on the border with Russia. "It will be a broad transition with brand new equipment and electronic database that will reduce the crossing to 1 minute" - he said.
Moreover, according to Mykola Azarov, Ukraine and Hungary can cooperate in the defense, nuclear and energy sectors. In particular, Ukraine can supply for Hungarian nuclear power plants appropriate equipment. As to energy cooperation, the Ukrainian Premier offers Hungary to participate in the modernization of the Ukrainian GTS. Thus, he assured his Hungarian counterpart in the reliability of Russian gas transit to Europe through Ukraine.
In turn, the Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban supported the proposal of Mykola Azarov, adding that bilateral cooperation should be pragmatic and focused. He said the urgency of updating of crossing points on the borders between Ukraine and Hungary also increased in the light of Ukraine`s integration into the EU. Viktor Orban also expressed interest in Hungarian businesses investing Ukrainian projects. "We would be pleased if the Hungarian investors would have such an opportunity" - he said.
