You're reading: Yanukovych hopes Greece will help Ukraine integrate with EU

President Viktor Yanukovych hopes that Greece, whose presidency of the Council of the European Union begins in 2014, will help Ukraine with signing a landmark political and free trade treaty with the 28-nation bloc.

This was said by Yanukovych in his greeting to President of Greece Karolos Papoulias, according to UNIAN.

“I rely on the assistance of the Hellenic Republic in the further development of cooperation between Ukraine and the European Union aimed at the conclusion and effective implementation of the (Association) Agreement,” Yanukovych said. 

He added that he believes that Greece will make an important contribution to the strengthening and deepening of the EU’s relations with partner countries, foremost with members of the Eastern Partnership initiative. 

Greece will head the Council of European Union in 2014. Evangelos Venizelos, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Greece said that the Hellenic Presidency’s priorities reflect the needs and concerns of all European citizens: growth and jobs, with a focus on alleviating unemployment – particularly among the young – and boosting job-creating investments in the real economy.

Ukraine takes over as the head of the Commonwealth of Independent States this year. As chairman, Ukraine plans to intensify efforts to implement the Free Trade Agreement in the CIS.