After the documents were signed, the heads of the two countries held a separate meeting where they discussed the entire complex of Russian-Ukrainian relations, and prospects for their further development.
Vladimir Putin and Viktor Yushchenko gave a high assessment of the document signed.
According to the statement, the commission will be headed by the Presidents of Russia and Ukraine. The main tasks of the commission are: to discuss the state of Russian-Ukrainian cooperation, to monitor the implementation of bilateral agreements and treaties reached by both sides, to develop priority programmes of cooperation, and to plan and carry out preparation of bilateral agreements directed towards deepening cooperation between the two parties. The commission’s tasks also include holding consultations on relevant issues of security and internal policy, and analysing and regulating problematic issues of bilateral relations.
In connection with the creating of the Russian-Ukrainian intergovernmental commission, the Russian-Ukrainian mixed commission on cooperation, created in accordance with an Agreement on 16 January 1996, will cease to function. At the same time, agreements, protocols and other resolutions passed since 16 January 1996 within the Russian-Ukrainian mixed commission on cooperation will remain in force.