(14 Apr 2000) Russian/Eng/Nat
U-S Secretary of State Madeleine Albright praised Russia's approval of the START-2 arms reduction treaty on Friday saying it was long overdue and would improve security for all.
Albright reacted to the news during as she started a visit to the Ukraine where she held meetings with Ukrainian officials and honoured the victims of Soviet terror.
She is visiting the country to affirm strong American support for Ukraine's ambitious economic reform agenda.
U-S Secretary of State Madeleine Albright first visited Kiev in March 1998.
According to the State Department, Albright's latest visit is aimed at encouraging further economic reforms in Ukraine.
Reforms in the strategically located and potentially rich nation were slowed by government inefficiency, corruption and complicated laws.
Now, President Leonid Kuchma and Prime Minister Viktor Yushchenko have embarked on a new course, implementing wide-ranging land reforms.
This has intensified privatisation efforts to spur economic growth over the next few years.
Albright earlier this year named Ukraine, along with Colombia, Indonesia and Nigeria, as nations that are to receive special attention and U-S aid in 2000.
During her first day in Kiev on Friday she met with U-S businessmen.
Ukraine, which Albright said is threatened by economic decline, corruption and crime, received U-S 195 (m) million dollars in aid last year.
A further U-S 219 million (m) dollars is being requested for 2000.
Albright then went on to lay a wreath at a monument to victims of communist repression.
The monument is dedicated to Ukrainians killed in the 1932-33 famine enforced by Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.
The current visit was originally planned for April 20-21.
Some media here suggested the visit was rescheduled in order to precede that of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is due to arrive in Ukraine on Monday.
Ukraine, under Kuchma, has long tried to maneuver itself between the United States and Russia, its powerful northern neighbour.
Since independence in 1991, Ukraine has proclaimed itself to be neutral, and Kiev describes both Washington and Moscow as strategic partners.
The visiting U-S Secretary of State also met with Ukraine foreign Minster Boris Tarasyuk.
She will travel on Saturday to Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan on her first visit to the region in more than three years in office.
On Friday, Albright also reacted to news that Russian approved the START-2 arms reduction treaty.
She said it would improve security for all.
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