MOSCOW, June 22 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian-Ukrainian interstate commission led by the two countries' presidents will meet in Russia in August, Ukraine's prime minister said Friday at a bilateral economic meeting.
"We consider today's meeting a preparatory stage for a session of the Putin-Yushchenko commission to be held in Russia in August," Viktor Yanukovych said.
Yanukovych said bilateral cooperation in the defense sector was a priority for discussion between the two countries.
"We have agreed to outline joint projects and certain programs in third countries," the Ukrainian premier said.
Yanukovych said Ukraine also had concerns over the suspension of joint monitoring of agricultural firms, which he said "damaged agricultural producers in both countries."
The Ukrainian official said that efforts aimed at boosting economic cooperation had been "fruitful," with trade increasing by almost 38% in the first four months of 2007.
In the first ten months of 2006, bilateral trade between the two countries hit $20 billion, up 19% against the same period last year. Fuel and energy remains a key sphere for economic cooperation. For Russia Ukraine is a key country for oil and gas transits to Europe. Russia pumps 15% of its oil exports and over 80% of gas through Ukraine.
Yanukovych said aircraft building, research centers, hi-tech products, and the space industry were yet to be addressed.
Initiated in the spring of 2005, just after President Viktor Yushchenko came to power in Ukraine, the Russian-Ukrainian Commission held its first meeting in December 2006.
