ArmInfo. On April 30, at the initiative of the Ukrainian side, a phone conversation was held between the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Ukraine Zohrab Mnatsakanayana and Dmytro Kuleba, the press service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry informs.
The interlocutors exchanged views on the challenges due to COVID-19 and the steps being undertaken at national level to address those challenges. Foreign Minister Mnatsakanyan expressed his solidarity to the friendly people of Ukraine in promptly overcoming the pandemic and its consequences. Regarding the steps undertaken to organize the return of Armenian and Ukrainian citizens amid the situation due to the novel coronavirus, both sides commended the close cooperation and constructive work carried out by the Armenian and Ukrainian diplomatic missions, as well as the input of the Armenian community of Ukraine. The sides commended the role of the Armenian community of Ukraine in strengthening the historical friendship between the two people. Foreign Ministers Mnatsakanyan and Kuleba exchanged views on issues of bilateral agenda, by outlining the framework of cooperation within the spheres of common interest.
During the conversation the Ministers exchanged views on a number of issues on the international agenda. The Foreign Minister of Armenia emphasized the importance of ensuring the universal nature of implementation of human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as supporting the international efforts towards the prevention of genocide.
To recall, earlier a letter was circulated in the media by the Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Vasily Bodnar to Ukrainian officials, where he asked them to refrain from using the term Armenian Genocide. The letter specifically states that Ukraine does not recognize the Armenian Genocide, and the diplomat asked Ukrainian officials not to take part in commemorative events on the occasion of the 105th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and to refuse to use this term.
To note, Ukraine has not officially recognized the Armenian Genocide. But, now the Verkhovna Rada is considering a draft resolution initiated by MP Anton Polyakov "Draft Resolution on the Recognition of the Armenian Genocide" (registration No. 2376 of 11/05/2019). According to the RA Statcommittee, the foreign trade turnover between Armenia and Ukraine in 2019 decreased by 0.7%, amounting to $ 170.7 million. At the same time, exports increased by 34.8% to $ 24.6 million, amid a decrease in imports by 4.9% to $ 146.1 million.