OREANDA-NEWS. February 16, 2011. Cooperation between Ukraine and Slovakia in transport sector and modernization of the infrastructure is developing very positively and has great potential. This was discussed during the meeting between the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Volodymyr Kornienko and the First Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Transport, Building and Regional Development of Slovakia, Jan Figel.

"Relations between our countries always were on high level, we have a positive history of relations. At the same time our potential is much larger - and we are to use it in full", Volodymyr Kornienko said at the beginning of the meeting.

The participants have focused on cooperation in railway transport, in particular, the prospects of multimodal transportations, the construction of railway track 1520 mm width Kosice - Bratislava - Vienna, cooperation in aviation; development of admission points on the Slovak-Ukrainian border.

"Such meetings are a model of good relations and successful cooperation, which is very important for us and the European Union as a whole", Jan Figel said.

The parties noted the positive dynamics of the Ukrainian-Slovak relations, in particular in railway transportation. Thus, in 2010 the volume of railway transportation between the countries increased by 4.5%.

Both Ukraine and Slovakia have expressed active interest in future construction of railway track 1520 mm width Kosice - Bratislava - Vienna. The said project will promote and increase the efficiency of transport links between Ukraine and Central Europe, reduce the cost of transportation due to lack of transfer operations at border stations.

In addition, during the meeting the agreements to harmonize the tariff policy on rail transport was reached, also several important issues of border crossing points on the borders of both countries were discussed, given the gradual increase in traffic in the future.

Discussing cooperation in the aviation sector, the parties noted the need to finalize the issue of direct flights from Kyiv to Bratislava. Jan Figel said that Slovakia is working on a major modernization of aviation infrastructure. Thus the airlines, that intend to perform such flights, have to determine the feasibility of direct flights, to analyze the potential traffic flow.

After the meeting, the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Volodymyr Kornienko and the First Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Transport, Building and Regional Development of Slovak Republic Jan Figel have signed agreed by both parties a Letter of Intent, which includes the development of effective cooperation on all questions of transport industry and future development of infrastructure between the two countries.