Austrian Federal President Alexander van der Bellen and his wife Doris Schmidauer is to make an official visit to Ukraine next week, bringing along Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl and a large delegation to discuss economic and cultural issues.
“In the political part of the visit, meetings with President Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman are scheduled. The talks will focus on multifaceted bilateral relations, as well as relations with the EU, the situation in the East of Ukraine, the Minsk Agreements and an agreement on cooperation in the sphere of culture and education,” the press service of the Austrian Embassy in Ukraine said on Wednesday.
The embassy reported that the visit to Ukraine will begin on Tuesday, March 13, with a walk through the old city of Kyiv, with representatives of civil society and students. In the evening, a meeting with representatives of the Austrian economy and business is planned, as well as with the Austrians involved in the work of the OSCE and other international organizations.
“On Wednesday, March 14, it is planned to lay wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, laying grain ears to the Memorial of Holodomor Victims in memory of death of millions of Ukrainians in 1932-1933 artificially caused by the famine, as well as laying flowers in memory of those killed on the Maidan in 2014,” the diplomatic mission of Austria reported.
The official part will begin with a reception with military honors from the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, as well as with tet-a-tete negotiations between the two presidents and negotiations with the delegation. After the negotiations, Kneissl will sign an agreement on cooperation in the sphere of culture and education. “Immediately after a joint press conference of the two presidents, Austrian Christoph Otto from the Global 2000 organization will be awarded by President Poroshenko with the Ukrainian Award for his project to help the children of Chornobyl,” the press service said.
After lunch, the presidents will take part in the economic forum. The official part of the visit in Kyiv will end with negotiations with the Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman.
On the third day of his stay in Ukraine, Van der Bellen and his wife will visit Lviv. After a walk and making remarks in the city distinguished visitors’ book, a visit to the Austrian library is scheduled. At the end of his visit to Ukraine, the Austrian Federal President will read out a report and talk with students in the Ukrainian Catholic University.
“Austria and the EU want to see a politically stable and economically successful Ukraine. Our bilateral relations are truly multifaceted. I am especially waiting for a trip to Lviv, a symbol of the close interconnected relationship between our countries,” the Austrian Embassy said, citing quotes van der Bellen.
