PREMIER SIGNS SASKATCHEWAN-UKRAINE CO-OPERATION AGREEMENT

Premier Roy Romanow and Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma met today to
launch the Saskatchewan-Ukraine Co-operation Agreement in Kyiv,
Ukraine. The agreement establishes a government-to-government
framework to guide future co-operation in economic, cultural and
democratic development.

Romanow was the guest of honour at an official dinner hosted by
President Kuchma, following meetings earlier in the day with Prime
Minister Yevhen Marchuk, Olexandr Moroz, Speaker of the Supreme Rada,
Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Valentin Lipatov and Dmytro Ostapenko,
minister of culture and arts.

Romanow is leading a trade and investment mission to western Europe and
Ukraine which is focusing on key economic sectors such as agricultural
machinery, ag-biotech, energy and cultural industries.

"We are confident this agreement will lead to improved and expanded
ties in the energy sector, in agricultural industries, education and
culture, and to the formalization of specific co-operative
initiatives," Romanow said. "In the co-operation agreement we have
also agreed to work toward establishing effective mechanisms to
steadily increase trade and investment between Saskatchewan and
Ukraine."



Romanow said he was proud Saskatchewan's co-operation will assist
Ukraine in its decisive and critically important program of political
and economic reform.

"In Saskatchewan, our Ukrainian community remains vibrant and the
contributions of the members of that community are gifts that continue
to enrich the lives of all Saskatchewan people.

"It is clear to all of us that Ukraine has a very bright future and has
recently begun to see solid successes with respect to its economic
reform plan. I sincerely hope that through our mission we communicate
Saskatchewan's support for an independent, democratic and prosperous
Ukraine, proud to take its place among the great nations of the world,"
Romanow said.

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For more information, contact:

Lynn Gidluck
Media Relations
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-0850