Photo: Libya's Prime Minister Baghdadi al-Mahmudi (R) and his Ukrainian counterpart Mykola Azarov sign a cooperation agreement following their meeting in Tripoli November 23, 2010.

Libya and Ukraine signed on Tuesday in Tripoli several agreements to strengthen bilateral cooperation between both countries. The Secretary of the General People's Committee, Dr. Baghdadi Mahmoudi, and the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Mykola Azarov, commended the outcome of the session.

The first agreement signed between the chambers of commerce, industry and agriculture in both countries aims to promote cooperation between these institutions, while the second agreement covers a Memorandum of Understanding between the Libyan Press Agency (JANA) and the Ukrainian News Agency (Ukrania New Form), consisting in information exchange, mutual visits of officials and staff training.

The third document was signed on a draft agreement for the cancellation of visas on diplomatic passports, special passports and peculiar cases.

In a joint press conference, held after the signing ceremony of the minutes of the meeting, both officials welcomed the atmosphere that prevailed during the session, claiming to have examined all difficulties and obstacles that hindered the implementation of previous agreements.

Baghdadi recalled the historical ties between Libya and Ukraine, saying his country had established a diversified cooperation with Kiev in many fields, including health, education, military and nuclear power.

He said the meeting had resulted in an agreement on the participation of Ukrainian companies in implementing development projects underway in Libya, especially in the field of basic infrastructure and subway construction. Libya also agreed to lease 100,000 hectares of farmland in Ukraine.

Ukraine also agreed to use its expertise in civilian nuclear technology to help Libya develop a nuclear energy capacity, Prime Minister Al-Baghdadi Ali al-Mahmoudi told a reporters.

On nuclear energy cooperation, he said: "Ukraine has experience and they are going to help us in this sector ... We agreed to start in this field immediately, especially in the area of training."

For his part, Azarov expressed the hope that the session will be a milestone in the promotion of cooperation between the two countries, indicating that both parties are driven by great optimism in the future.