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New ambassador says that he will work to solve problems existing between Ukraine and Belarus by year-end

Viktor Tykhonov, the new Ukrainian ambassador to Belarus, told reporters in Brest on Friday that he would work to solve the existing problems between Ukraine and Belarus by the beginning of next year.

"My task is to develop both political and economic relations between Ukraine and Belarus," Mr. Tykhonov said. "Unfortunately, there are a number of unsolved problems. For me, the goal is to solve them this year or by the beginning of next year. And then many issues, especially economic ones, will be resolved automatically."

Earlier on Friday, Mr. Tykhonov met with Kanstantsin Sumar, head of the Brest Regional Executive Committee, who told him about the social and economic development of the region and its investment climate. Messrs. Sumar and Tykhonov discussed issues relating to cooperation between the Brest region and a number of Ukrainian provinces.

Also under discussion were promising areas of cooperation, in particular, the establishment of joint enterprises to process farm produce. Mr. Tykhonov said that Ukraine would try to cooperate with each of Belarus' six provinces, including the Brest region, simultaneously.

On Friday evening, Mr. Tykhonov took part in a reception given by the general consulate of Ukraine in Brest on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Ukraine's independence.
Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych appointed former Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Tykhonov as ambassador to Belarus on August 22.

The 62-year-old Tykhonov replaced Roman Bezsmertnyi, who was dismissed by the president on June 3, apparently for his outspoken criticism of the Belarusian government’s policies. //BelaPAN