Ukraine offers pact aimed at beating crime gangs

An international agreement between Ireland and the Ukraine has been proposed by officials in the former Soviet State in a bid to crack down on organised crime, it emerged tonight.

Negotiations have begun between officials from both countries as part of efforts to forge closer links and tackle international crime gangs.

The offer was put forward as Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern held talks with Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko and Foreign Affairs Minister Borys Tarasyuk.

A spokesman for the Department of Justice said talks on the bilateral pact were at a very early stage.

“The Ukrainian authorities have proposed an international agreement with Ireland in the area of organised crime. Negotiations are at a very early stage,” the spokesman said.

It is understood it could be several months before a full agreement is reached between the two countries.

Mr Ahern has spent the last number of days touring Russia before travelling to Kiev on United Nations business to meet Mr Yushchenko becoming the first Irish foreign minister to visit the Ukraine.

Mr Yushchenko was elected President of Ukraine in January, promising to deliver radical political change.

He was poisoned in an attempted assassination during the elections before taking power in the peaceful Orange Revolution.

Agreements were also signed with officials in the Ukraine to further economic and political links between the two countries.

Mr Ahern, on the last day of his visit to the former Soviet States, announced a €2.5m aid package for the Chernobyl disaster.

Funding of €1m was also set aside to pay for the training of senior civil servants in the Ukraine.

It is understood the pacts could be the first steps on the long road towards entry to the European Union for the Ukraine forging closer ties between security chiefs and reducing the threat posed by international gangs.

At present trade between Ireland and the Ukraine is worth around €20m but it is hoped the new pacts will boost deals between the two states over the coming years.

Foreign Minister Borys Tarasyuk also praised Ireland for opening its doors to around 12,000 Ukrainians and helping them settle in the country over the last decade.