Ukraine counts on progress with neighbors in control and resumption of its agricultural exports

MOSCOW. Sept 21 (Interfax) - Ukraine is hoping for progress in the talks with its neighbors on control measures and resumption of its agricultural exports, the country's Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Nikolai Solsky said, as quoted by Ukrainian media.

The talks of the past few days with Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia, and with Poland on Thursday focused on the export control measures proposed by Ukraine, Solsky said.

Following the European Commission (EC) decision not to extend the restrictions on Ukrainian grain exports, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary have imposed unilateral bans, he said. The EC proposed that Ukraine submit a plan to control its grain exports, which it did on September 18.

"Each of these countries has read [the Ukrainian proposals] [...] Romania has agreed to them and submitted its own suggestions. We said we could take [the suggestions] into account. With Slovakia, we had a conversation yesterday. It, too, says the plan could be acceptable. We will provide them with all explanations and additional documents by Friday, after which will be awaiting further questions to agree on their final versions," Solsky said

Such work is in progress with Hungary as well, he said.

Poland will be provided with additional materials in writing, he said. The Polish side will prepare its questions to discuss during next telephone talks next Wednesday.

As to whether Ukraine might withdraw its lawsuit from the World Trade Organization (WTO), Solsky said the issue was discussed with his Polish, Hungarian and Slovak counterparts. The focus now should be on searching for export control solutions, with the remaining issues to be discussed later, he said.