EVENT

Ukraine and the EU set a date for the next summit

The EU-Ukraine summit will be held in Brussels on November 22. The date was announced by Herman Van Rompuy, president of European Council, after a meeting with the President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych. According to Rompuy, the agenda of the future summit was also discussed during the meeting. In particular, the two men discussed the continuation of negotiations on the association agreement, which includes regulations for the creation of a free trade area. “We discussed issues of fundamental importance for our relations, including agreements on association and a free trade area. We also discussed Ukraine’s further progress in implementing reforms,” said the president of the European Council. He noted that at present Ukraine appears to be a country with political stability, which is based on cooperation among the president, the government, and the parliamentary coalition. Rompuy is convinced that this will enable Ukraine to make progress on important reforms. He also mentioned that the agreement reached between Ukraine’s government and the IMF shows the country’s top management’s desire to find solutions. In relation to this, the president of the European Council expressed his hopes that due fulfillment of the agreement’s criteria will, in turn, enable the EU to make progress on providing macro financial assistance to Ukraine. Rompuy said that the parties also discussed the role of Ukraine in resolving the Transnistria conflict and emphasized the importance of partnership relations with Russia for both Ukraine and the EU.

Georgia starts lawsuit against Russia in The Hague

On September 13 the UN International Court of Justice in The Hague started considering Tbilisi’s arguments at the hearing on the Georgian lawsuit against Russia, which deals with the August war of 2008. Georgia filed a lawsuit against Russia in August 2008 and charged Moscow with violation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination that took place between 1990 and 2008. However, the court has not started considering the claim as Russia insists on the fact that it does not have jurisdiction over the case. The Russian objections are the matter of the hearings in The Hague and will last until September 17. The Georgian side believes that they have weighty arguments to succeed at the highest judicial body of the UN. “We think that the arguments, presented by Russia at this stage, are only an attempt to escape responsibility. We have great expectations that we will gain majority support in the court,” said Georgian first deputy Minister of Justice Tina Burdzhaliani, who represents the Georgian side in The Hague.

Competition for the development of two oil fields announced

The National Joint Stock Company “Nadra Ukrainy” announced the 12th open competition for geological examination for exploratory-industrial development of two oil fields. One of them was put up during the previous competition, but no investors were found. As the company’s website informs, the Semyhyniv oilfield (Lviv oblast) and the Shatravynsk oilfield (Sumy oblast, re-offered) were offered for examination. “Nadra Ukrainy” will accept applications until September 24. The competition proposals will be disclosed on the same day. The cost of the competition documentation package is 39.63 thousand hryvnias.