NATO Chief Arrives In Ukraine For Talks

NATO's Jaap de Hoop Scheffer (file photo) 27 June 2005 (RFE/RL) -- NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer today arrived in Ukraine's capital Kyiv on a one-day visit for talks with top Ukrainian officials.

The NATO chief is to have talks with President Viktor Yushchenko on Ukraine's progress on democratic reforms, which are intended to bring the country closer to membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

NATO says reform priorities in Ukraine include strengthening democratic institutions, reinforcing political dialogue, and reinvigorating NATO-Ukraine cooperation in defense- and security-sector reform.

(Interfax-Ukraine/AP/nato.int)