Ukrainian Ambassador Zaichuk pointed out that in his four-year term of office started in September 2009 he would aim at approaching Croatia and Ukraine, in particular their regions and cities. He supported the idea of connecting Rijeka and the Mykolayiv region and its seat – the city of Mykolayiv, which history was always closely connected with the shipbuilding and shipping industries which continues still today. The ambassador emphasised that Rijeka and the Mykolayiv region have many things in common, since these are sea ports with developed logistic and traffic infrastructure. The advantages of Rijeka are its free zones and grain silos, particularly in light of the fact that Ukraine is the world's third largest wheat exporter.

Ambassador Zaichuk thanked the City of Rijeka for its support to the Ukraine national minority in Rijeka and to the cultural society of Ruthenians and Ukrainians "Rušnjak", which president Vladimir Provči also attended the reception.

Mayor Obersnel wished a warm welcome to the Ukraine Ambassador who is on his inaugural visit to Rijeka, emphasising that Rijeka is interested in setting tighter connections with an Ukraine city, namely in developing cooperation in the field of the economy and culture and in connecting universities. He particularly highlighted the importance of cooperation in the field of shipbuilding and maritime transport, in particular grain transport, and he observed that in the latter case, the Port of Rijeka and the Port of Rijeka Authority should play an important role.
(S.R.)