President Medvedev Congratulated Viktor Yanukovych on his 60th Birthday

President Medvedev called his Ukrainian counterpart President Viktor Yanukovych to congratulate his on his 60th birthday. Mr. Medvedev also sent Mr. Yanukovych a message of congratulations.

“Your political and life experience and your knowledge and energy will be needed in full measure in your work as President of Ukraine and your efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s statehood,” President Medvedev said. “Your position of principle as a consistent supporter of equal and mutually beneficial cooperation between Russia and Ukraine has given a powerful boost to our countries’ work together of late.” The Russian president also stated that he values “the trusting relations that we have built and that enable us to discuss openly and resolve effectively the development tasks before us, and to strengthen our countries’ historically close ties.”