Expert: Kyiv should focus on humanitarian aspect in its foreign policy

Kyiv, February 10 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry should continue to focus on the humanitarian aspect of its foreign policy, Head of the Penta Center for Applied Political Studies Volodymyr Fesenko has said.

"I think that it's a human dimension - the emphasis on protecting the rights and interests of our citizens abroad. This foreign policy line must continue," he said at a press conference at the Interfax-Ukraine news agency on Friday.

At the same time, the expert noted that the Foreign Ministry was actively working on the gradual settlement of visa problems for Ukrainian citizens, as well as on the protection of the rights of labor migrants from Ukraine.

"This [humanitarian aspect of the ministry's work] is a new trend in Ukrainian diplomacy, and these changes began before [Foreign Minister Kostiantyn] Hryschenko. But the fact that the Foreign Ministry is focusing more on this is an absolutely proper trend," Fesenko said.

In his opinion, Ukraine should continue to retain their foreign partners and develop foreign trade, both with Europe and Russia.

"I think that it is now one of the priorities for the current year, because we need to ease current tensions with the Russians and resolve concrete problems, in particular, with gas," he said.

Fesenko also said that Ukraine should continue its cooperation with China, India, Brazil and Turkey.

"A third of our trade accounts for the European Union, a third for Russia, and 20% for the Asian countries, where there are tremendous reserves for the development of our foreign trade," the expert said.