VITEBSK, 11 December (BelTA) – An honorary consulate of Ukraine solemnly opened on Suvorova Street in Vitebsk on 11 December, BelTA has learned.
Ukraine's Ambassador to Belarus Igor Kizim noted that the opening of the consulate will facilitate interregional ties between Vitebsk Oblast and Ukrainian regions, first of all, economic contacts.
“The work on establishing the consulate started after my first visit to the city about 1.5 years ago. I realized back then that Ukraine is not represented in Belarus' northern region. The opening of the consulate will give more exposure to Vitebsk Oblast in Ukrainian regions. Today I have met with top-ranking officials of the region. We are revising all the documents that were once signed between Vitebsk Oblast and our regions. At the recent forum in Zhitomir, the agreements with Odessa Oblast, Cherkassy Oblast and Vinnitsa Oblast signed in the early 1990s got a new lease on life,” the diplomat said.
Igor Kizim added that Ukraine is implementing a decentralization reform, which opens up new opportunities for the country's regions. “I have great expectations from Honorary Consul Igor Kalinichenko. He is a businessman. He will help build economic ties and assist Ukrainian entrepreneurs with starting a business in Vitebsk Oblast. We hope that business people from Vitebsk Oblast will also start operations in Ukraine,” the ambassador said.
The diplomat expressed hope that the Ukrainian community in Vitebsk will step up their activities. The consulate will also help Ukrainian nationals in Belarus resolve their issues and protect their rights.
Aide to the Belarusian President-Presidential Envoy to Vitebsk Oblast Anatoly Linevich wished interregional contacts to translate into friendly relations between the regional authorities, which will give a new impetus to bilateral cooperation. “It is pretty warm today in Vitebsk. I am convinced that the relations between our countries will be just as warm. We can speak our native tongues and understand each other. This all is an important contributor to cooperation in economy and social field,” he said.
Vitebsk Oblast First Deputy Governor Oleg Matskevich underlined that the opening of consulates in Vitebsk (like the consulate of Latvia) is a great boost for bilateral cooperation. “This allows intensifying cooperation in all the areas, including economy, culture and humanitarian affairs. I believe that the Ukrainian consulate in our city will also contribute to that,” he said.
In January-October, the trade between Vitebsk Oblast and Ukraine amounted to $264.2 million, including $196.9 million in export. The export to several Ukrainian regions expanded manifold. For example, the export to Sumy Oblast rose 9 times, supplies to Odessa Oblast grew 4.5 times and deliveries to Lvov Oblast doubled. The trade was particularly active with Kiev Oblast, Zhitomir Oblast, Odessa Oblast and Dnepropetrovsk Oblast.
