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November 10th, 2014

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The foreign minister, Martin Lidegaard, is in Ukraine and Georgia this week to show support for the two nations' continuing reforms in their bid for eventual EU membership, while also improving bilateral relations with the two countries.

In Ukraine, Lidegaard will meet with the country's president, Petro Porosjenko, and the foreign minister, Pavlo Klimkin, after which he will travel to Georgia to meet its prime minister, Irakli Gharibashvili, in Tbilisi.

”The situation in Ukraine is still very perilous,” Lidegaard said in a press release. ”The ceasefire is breached on a daily basis and weapons and personnel are still illegally transported across the Russian-Ukrainian border.”

”In this situation, it is important to convey Denmark's support to the reform and to the Minsk process.”

READ MORE: Denmark supports EU deal with Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova

Lidegaard revealed that he would work on expanding co-operation with Ukraine in the visa and energy arenas – particularly where Danish competencies can assist Ukraine with their energy plans.

Lidegaard will also travel to Odessa in Ukraine to view the consequences of the conflict up close. He will meet with the local governor and mayor, the OSCE monitoring mission operating in the area, and also with civil society representatives to discuss perspectives for an inclusive national dialogue.

Georgia on his mind
Lidegaard will then move on to Georgian capital Tbilisi, where aside from Gharibashvili, he will meet with opposition members, as well as a number of NGOs concerned with minorities and human rights.

”I want to congratulate the Georgians on its association and free trade agreement with the EU,” Lidegaard said.

”It's a very important stop, and I want to underline that the agreement brings with it reform responsibilities, including the separation of the executive and the judiciary powers."