Biden's visit proves strategic nature of US-Ukrainian relations.

KIEV, July 23 (Itar-Tass) - The visit of the U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden to Ukraine confirmed the strategic nature of relations between the two countries, according to Vera Ulyanchenko, the chief of the Ukrainian president's secretariat.

The sides conducted "an open, constructive and friendly dialogue and
pledged mutual support for reforming the energy sector of the Ukrainian
economy," Ulyanchenko said, summing up the results of Biden's visit on
behalf of Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, on Wednesday.
Ulyanchenko said that the United States had reacted positively to
Yushchenko's invitation to U.S. companies to participate in the
modernization of Ukraine's gas transportation system. Progress has been
made in cooperation in nuclear energy.
"The sides agreed to expand the participation of western companies in
the supply of nuclear fuel to Ukraine and to create Ukraine's own nuclear
fuel production in its territory in order to considerably strengthen teh
country's energy security," Ulyanchenko went on to say.
She said that Vice-President Biden had shown interest in the earliest
implementation of a project for delivering Caspian oil to Ukraine and
European countries via the Odessa-Brody oil pipeline.
Ulyanchenko noted that the United States was building relations with
Ukraine on the basis of mutual interest and without a backward glance on
the position of any third party.
She believes that Biden's visit "gave new dynamics to the relations of
strategic partnership" and that Ukraine will get assistance for reforms
necessary for promoting democracy and fighting the economic crisis.

. Russian FM to attend ASEAN security forum.

PHUKET, THAILAND, July 23 (Itar-Tass) - Russian Foreign Minister
Sergei Lavrov will attend the 16th session of the ASEAN Regional Security
Forum on Thursday. Its participants will set forth their approaches to
ways of provision of peace and security in the Asia-Pacific Region in a
document to be adopted on the results of the meeting.
The session is expected to adopt a joint statement titled 'The ASEAN
Regional Forum Vision'. "This conceptual document will set forth
fundamental approaches of the participants in the forum to the provision
of peace and security in the Asia-Pacific Region and will confirm their
commitment to strengthening the ASEAN Regional Forum as a pillar of
emerging regional security architecture," the Russian Foreign Ministry
spokesman said.
The ministers are also supposed to approve the final reports of
inter-session meetings - the vital working mechanisms of the ASEAN
Regional Forum - on confidence building measures and preventive diplomacy,
the liquidation of the aftermaths of emergency situations, counteraction
to terrorism and trans-national crime, sea security, disarmament and
non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. They will also adopt plans of work
for the forthcoming period.
Nesterenko said the most topical subject would be how to form a
regional security architecture.
"Russia comes out for the creation of a transparent and equal security
system without demarcation lines that should be based on collective
principles and norms of international law and take account of the
interests of all countries of the region," he emphasized.
Nesterenko said that the main task facing the ASEAN Regional Security
Forum was to pass on from confidence-building measures to preventive
diplomacy.
"In this context Russia suggests focusing efforts on strengthening the
legal basis of regional security efforts including the use of our progress
on the elements of the European Security Treaty, naturally, with
allowances for the region's specific features. The initiative to conclude
such a Treaty was launched by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev,"
Nesterenko went on to say.
Terrorism remains one of the main security threats in the Asia-Pacific
Region.
"In 2010 Russia will preside over an inter-session meeting of the
ASEAN Regional Forum on counteraction to terrorism and trans-national
crime. Brunei has volunteered to co-chair the meeting on behalf of the
ASEAN. It has been suggested to make international information security
and protection of critical infrastructure the meeting's main topics,"
Nesterenko said.
The activities of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia
Pacific provide substantial intellectual support for the work of the ASEAN
Regional Forum.
"Russia plans to increase its participation in the work of this
regional 'laboratory of ideas'", the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman
said.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will leave for Bangkok on
Thursday afternoon.

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