By Tommy Hansen
COPENHAGEN
Danish FM Martin Lidegaard has landed in Kiev for talks with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to discuss the current conflict and future relationships between Denmark, the EU and Ukraine, before travelling on to Georgia.
The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs told The Anadolu Agency a press conference is expected at the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs later on Monday, but full details of the program and three-day trip were being withheld for security reasons.
As he flew out of the Danish capital of Copenhagen, Lidegaard said: "The situation in Ukraine is still very difficult. The cease-fire is broken on a daily basis and arms and personnel are coming across the border from Russia."
"It is very important to express continued Danish support to the reforms and the Minsk process," he added.
Lidegaard's comment on the Minsk process referred to the establishment in June of a means to facilitate dialog between Ukraine, Russia and the OSCE.
A 12-point agreement confirming the process was signed in September.
Trade deals hailed
The discussions in Ukraine will focus on further cooperation between Denmark and Ukraine on energy, with Lidegaard expected to offer his country's assistance on energy planning.
Talks on improving visa relations between the two countries are also scheduled to take place and the visit includes a trip to Odessa - the seaport and third-largest city in Ukraine - where Lidegaard will meet the local governor, mayor and the Special Monitoring Mission of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, or OSCE, which was deployed in March.
He will also meet representatives from civil society organizations and discuss views on creating an "all-inclusive" national dialogue.
In Georgia, Lidegaard will congratulate the country on the trade partnership deals signed in June by Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia - the so-called Association Agreements - a framework for cooperation between the EU and non-EU countries.
The deals, signed at an EU summit in Brussels, are seen as a major step for non-EU states towards possible EU membership in the future.
Reform agenda
The Danish Foreign Minister will meet Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Deputy Foreign Minister Tamar Berushashvili and is expected to raise the need for continued reforms in Georgia.
“The Association Agreement is a very important step and, of course, comes with an obligation to introduce further reforms, among others the separation of powers, which I shall address during my talks in Georgia,” Lidegaard said in a press release.
Lidegaard last met the Georgian Prime Minister when he visited the country in April prior to the signing of the agreements, when he discussed politics, economic trade and regional security.
The European Parliament passed a resolution in April stating: "In accordance with Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, as well as any other European country, have a European perspective and can apply for EU membership in compliance with the principles of democracy, respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights, minority rights and ensuring the rule of rights."
Association Agreements generally commit countries to EU standards within customs regulations, quality controls and free-market competition.
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