Ukraine's leading English-language newspaper since 1995

President Victor Yushchenko has confirmed that Ukraine is ready to continue open and fruitful dialogue and dynamic development of its relations with the European Union.

Yushchenko made the confirmation in a message in which he congratulated Belgium's Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy on his election as the president of the European Council.

In the congratulatory message, Yuschenko also expressed the conviction that Van Rompuy's experiences in politics and government would facilitate efficient implementation of institutional reform of the European Union and a strengthening of its position in the world.

As Ukrainian News earlier reported, Van Rompuy, 62, was unanimously elected as the president of the European Council at a summit of the European Council in Brussels (Belgium) on November 19.

Van Rompuy will take office on January 1, 2010.

Catherine Ashton of Great Britain was elected as the European Union's foreign minister.

These two posts were created by the Lisbon agreement, which will come into effect on December 1, 2009.