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Statement by Coordinator Saathoff before leaving for Ukraine
On the occasion of his trip to Ukraine, Johann Saathoff, Coordinator for Intersocietal Cooperation with Russia, Central Asia and the Eastern Partnership Countries, issued the following statement today (6 June):
Germany and Ukraine are closely linked in friendship. As partners and friends, we cooperate closely in numerous areas. Germany is committed to Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Non-governmental organisations in particular are important actors in Ukraine, helping to drive the reform process and especially the fight against corruption. I am looking forward to getting to know many of them at the Zero Corruption Conference in Kyiv. I am particularly keen to visit the site of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor disaster, which took place in 1986 and had repercussions for large swathes of Europe. I will also be having numerous conversations about renewable energies. Ukraine has great potential in this field, and our cooperation in the German-Ukrainian Energy Partnership is intensive.
Background information:
Coordinator Saathoff is visiting Ukraine from 6 to 9 June. In the capital, Kyiv, he will have political talks with representatives of the Ukrainian Government and parliament, meet civil society actors and take part in the Zero Corruption Conference, at which international government and civil society representatives will be discussing democracy and reform, among other things. Saathoff will also visit the now decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear power plant, site of a serious nuclear accident in 1986 that affected many countries in Europe.