Diplomatic tensions between Moscow and crisis-hit Kiev flared up anew as Russia barred a Ukrainian presidential official from entering the country Wednesday in response to the deportation of a Russian political expert from Ukraine.
The two ministers discussed bilateral and diplomatic partnership, as well as border issues, Yatsenyuk said: "At the meeting we discussed border crossing rules for Ukrainians and the problem of [entry banning] lists."
During Yatsenyuk's previous visit to Moscow in April 2007 Russia proposed removing such lists and mutual restrictions, except in criminal cases. "We have not received a [Ukrainian] response yet, but I have voiced the conditions required to remove entry obstacles," Lavrov said.
Yatsenyuk said it would be necessary to hold bilateral consultations before adopting appropriate resolution. "We should train certain individuals and politicians...principles of mutual respect between our two countries," the Ukrainian foreign minister said.
Lavrov also announced that Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine would meet at an informal CIS summit in St. Petersburg on June 10 and hold a meeting of the interstate commission before the fall.
The Russian foreign minister said he planned to visit Ukraine late summer or early fall.
The Ukrainian foreign minister announced that the two countries' prime ministers would also hold a meeting of the Economic Cooperation Committee as part of the Putin-Yushchenko commission in Moscow June 22.
The Russian foreign ministry confirmed the announcement and said Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov and his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovych would discuss a whole range of bilateral issues, including economic cooperation, partnership in fuel and energy, high technologies, and the defense industry.
