Ukrainian foreign minister to meet president

The Ukrainian foreign minister will begin a three-day visit to Ireland today.

Borys Tarasyuk, who came to power as part of his country’s peaceful Orange revolution two years ago, will meet President Mary McAleese and Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern.

Ukraine established diplomatic relations with Ireland in 1992, shortly after it gained independence and established an embassy here in 2003.

Irish investors are involved in more than 150 businesses in Ukraine, while there is also a strong link through the work of Adi Roche’s Chernobyl Children’s Project.

Mr Tarasyuk is due to sign a memorandum of understanding in the Sphere of Culture with Minister for Tourism, Arts and Sports John O’Donoghue, and a memorandum of understanding in education with Minister for Education Mary Hanafin.