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We also discussed the recent events, sad events which took place in Melitopol in Ukraine. This strategic
issue is much concern to our society and it is clear that we have to take some major steps and measures to
eliminate as soon as possible all the hazardous materials and the obsolete munitions stationed... Or stored now
in the territory of Ukraine and we agree together with the Secretary General that support will be given on the part
of NATO in order to ensure to secure some required technologies for elimination of that where dangerous
substances and materials and we do hope that in the nearest future we'll get the answer to our request and I
would like to emphasize here that the measures to choose a partner among those lines for Ukraine and the United
Utates of America.

I also informed Secretary General that the defence reform in Ukraine is closely linked to the reduction
of the armed forces of Ukraine and this is going to be implemented only provided that the social protection of
the ex-servicemen former officer will be also ensured in this country. Thank you.

Questions and answers

Q: I have two questions one to Secretary General, speaking about the Istanbul meeting and the question
to the Prime Minister speaking about the Melitopol tragedy, who is responsible? We are talking about the
official public figures, government figures who is responsible for that? Who bears the responsibility?

De hoop scheffer: let me first say that, of course, I've offered my condolences to the Prime Minister and
the people of Ukraine on this Melitopol tragedy which is really very serious and I support what the Prime
Minister said about the United States being the lead nation in a partnership for Peace Trust Fund to get the
thing off the ground. I didn't quite get, I must admit, what the question was you had on the summit this summer
in Istanbul?

Q: has been the decision passed at the Istanbul summit meeting yet?

De hoop scheffer: sorry... Yeah, that decision has not yet been taken at this very moment but it will of
course soon be taken by the allies.

Yanukovych: well answering that questions regarding the tragedy in Melitopol I would like to say that on
the 20th of May, latest, the special committee is going to complete the investigation of this sad tragic event in
Melitopol and we are going to propose the specific concrete steps and measures to be taken in the future in order
to take care of these dangerous munition which is stored today in Ukraine. And of course our proposals will be
submitted for consideration to the counsil national security of Ukraine and here we have to say that the level
which it was going to be considered this Ministry of Defence and general staff and of course there is... If you are
talking about... If you are asking who is going to be made responsible for that, I think those responsible will be
found among the top military leaders of Ukraine.

Q: Mr. Secretary General, every single time when Ukrainian leaders come to NATO, NATO says about
political reforms and reforms of mass media. Did you discuss this topic today and do you think that there is a
contradiction because the Ukrainian leaders say about Euro-Atlantic integration but at the same time the situation
in mass media is getting worse.

De hoop scheffer: there's no contradiction, no. For the simple reason that it's in the annual target plan. I
mean it's written out there everything on freedom of media, democracy, rule of law, that's the reason we always
discuss it. So I do not see a contradiction. You know that NATO attaches great importance to this element and
of course we discussed it as we discussed it two weeks ago when i was in Kiev.Thank you very much.

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