OREANDA-NEWS. On September 17, First Vice Prime Minister, Finance Minister of Ukraine Nikolay Azarov met with EBRD President Jean Lemierre, the press office of Ukraine's Finance Ministry reported.

The sides have discussed burning and promising cooperation issues of Ukraine and EBRD. Nikolay Azarov noted that "finally we had succeeded in general solution on completion of works within the project on transformation of the  Ukryttya (Shelter) object at Chornobyl NPP to ecologically safe system. In this connection we have approached signing of the international technical assistance agreements and operation contracts".

Due to the international programs the New Safe Confinement (NSC or New Shelter) at the Chornobyl NPP will be constructed over the old  Ukryttya  (Shelter) as well as Dry Spent Fuel Storage SVYAT 2 handling the needs of all nuclear power industry of Ukraine in retaining the spent fuel. The warranty operating period of both objects is 100 years. Value of contracts totals some 735 million euro.Jean Lemierre emphasized that he gives Mykola Azarov his due for his attention focused on this project and expressed confidence that implementation of the projects would be characterized by team work with the Government, State Nuclear Regulatory Authority, CNPP management.

"We are impressed by economic results of Ukraine. It is evidence of good prospects for new interesting projects, in particular, in energy sector," EBRD President stated. "This year the bank' s investments to Ukraine will amount to about 800 million euro. At the same time, we see the growing interest of investors in your country. They are satisfied with work in Ukraine, they put trust in promising projects of Ukraine and we will consider projects concerning venture capital."

One of the promising directions for venture cooperation Lean Lemierre mentioned was medical sphere, as he had highly estimated the Government's intention to upgrade the treatment-and-diagnostic institutions and reform medicine within three years.

In conclusion of the meeting EBRD President stated that the bank's shareholders would hold its annual meeting in 2008 in Kiev with pleasure.