Ukrainian Foreign Minister Petro Poroshenko has received a state award from Spain, the Order of Civil Merit, for contributing to the development of relations between Ukraine and Spain.
Spanish Ambassador to Ukraine Jose Rodrigues Moyano presented the award to Poroshenko, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said on its Web site on Thursday.
In his speech, the ambassador noted the importance of Ukraine’s place and role in Europe and on the international arena.
"Ukraine is getting closer to Europe and is becoming better known in Spain. The success of the Ukrainian state is more noticeable not only because of its large community in our country, but also because of a democratic nature of the electoral process and a democratic transition of power," the ambassador said.
He said that Poroshenko had received the award for maintaining business relations and improving contacts, including on a personal level and with Madrid’s official representatives.
The minister, in turn, thanked the ambassador for the award and expressed confidence that relations between the two countries were a shining example of how to achieve important results that, first and foremost, were of practical importance to the citizens of both countries. Poroshenko also pointed to the recent signing of an agreement on the mutual recognition and exchange of driving licenses, as well as preparations for signing in the near future other documents in the sphere of social protection that are important for Ukrainian citizens.
