ANKARA - Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko arrived in Turkey Monday for a three-day visit expected to focus on developing greater energy cooperation between the two countries and freeing up the visa regime.
"We are ready to seriously review our visa regime, including with Turkey," Yushchenko was quoted as telling Turkish media through his press service before his departure for Ankara.
Yushchenko was scheduled to meet with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan late on Monday, and with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc on Tuesday.
He was to travel on to Istanbul on Wednesday to meet with Turkish business people.
Ukraine earlier this year withdrew visa requirements for European Union passport holders, and Yushchenko said Kiev was considering similar measures for other countries.
"In parallel, we have to answer the question of security against international terrorism, the narcotics trade and human trafficking," he said. "This is why I am eagerly awaiting discussions with the Turkish side about a reciprocal liberalization of the visa regime."
Cooperation in the energy sector is another priority item in talks between the two countries, which both have large portions of the Black Sea coastline. Ukraine, on the sea's northern coast, hopes to export electricity to energy-hungry Turkey in the south.
"We are ready to present a project for electricity exports," Yushchenko said.
Turkey, for its part, could ensure oil and gas transport to Ukraine from "alternative regions," he said.
Ukraine currently receives most of its oil and gas from Russia and Turkmenistan.
Ukraine is also interested in boosting investment by Turkey, which currently funds some 331 businesses in the ex-Soviet republic.
The two sides will also discuss cooperating in Iraqi reconstruction projects, Yushchenko said.
06/06/2005 16:26 GMT