Kyiv, 31/10/2005

All media are invited to a press conference organised within the framework of the project « Co-operation of Public Bodies with Civil Organisations in the Process of Agrarian Policy Design and Implementation in Ukraine”. This project is funded by the European Union and is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry and Rural Affairs, France in cooperation with the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, Ukraine and the Hellenic Ministry of Agriculture, Greece. The Ukrainian partner of the project is the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, represented by the Ukrainian Project Leader, and Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy, Mr. Y.M. DEMCHAK.

The central objective of this project is to develop a legislative framework enabling civil organisations in the Ukrainian agricultural sector to adopt an active role in the design and implementation of national agricultural policy and strategy together with the State. The project has worked closely with the Ministry of Agrarian Policy in preparing draft legislation which successfully underwent a first reading at the Rada on October 18^th, 2005.

The following speakers will outline their perception of the project from their point of view and comment on the implications for the wider development of the agricultural sector of Ukraine.

• Mr. Y.M. DEMCHAK, Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy
• Mr. Ian BOAG, Head of the EU Delegation to the Ukraine
• Mr. Yves VAN HAECKE, Inspector General Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries, and Rural Affairs France and EU Project Leader

The following persons are invited to participate at the Press Conference:

Michel Durand, Partnership Adviser
Natalya Korchakova, Project Manager EU Delegation
O.I. Yufnovski, Rada Deputy
I.F. Tomich, Rada Deputy
Mr. VI Drobot, Cabinet of Ministers
T.I. Varshenko, Ministry of Agrarian Policy
T. N. Rochina, Ministry of Agrarian Policy
Frank O’Sullivan, Project Coordinator
Journalists of the Agricultural TV programme Selskiy Chas
Journalists invited by the EU Delegation
Journalists invited by the Ministry of Agrarian Policy

The Press Conference of the project will be held at:

Ministry of Agrarian Policy, 24, Kreshchatyk Street, 01001 KYIV at 11:30 on Friday 04^th November, 2005.

For further information, please contact:

Assistant to the Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy, Mr Vladislav A. Sosnovsky

Tel: +380-44-2798055