OECD office to open in Kiev

MOSCOW. Feb 28 (Interfax) - Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Secretary-General Mathias Cormann has announced the opening of an OECD office in Kiev, Ukraine, on March 1.

"I can confirm that our formal office will open in Kiev tomorrow," the Ukrainian media quoted Cormann as saying at a joint press briefing with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal in Kiev on Tuesday.

He thanked the Slovak embassy for providing premises for the OECD office, as well as Poland, Romania, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia for giving financial support to the office.

"The staff of our office will be cooperating with your government in the drafting of a program for Ukraine within the OECD framework, so that we would help you reach every priority task set in the reform program of your government with regard to OECD standards and principles as a future member of this organization," he said.

The Ukrainian media also said that Ukraine and the OECD signed an agreement on Ukraine's participation in the PISA 2025 education quality assessment program.

"We have signed an agreement on Ukraine's participation in the PISA 2025 (Program for International Student Assessment)," the Ukrainian media quoted Shmygal as saying at the joint press briefing with Cormann.