Ukraine embassy marks 25 years after recognition by Jordan

AMMAN — The Ukrainian embassy in Amman released a statement on Wednesday celebrating 25 years since Jordan’s recognition of Ukrainian independence from the Soviet Union. 

On December 28, 1991, the Kingdom joined an increasing number of countries in formally recognising the newly-independent Ukraine.

Over the next quarter of a century period, 27 agreements, memoranda and other programmes have been signed between Amman and Kiev, with over 50 bilateral visits, the embassy said. 

His Majesty King Abdullah made his first official visit to Ukraine in 2011, and since then, Jordan has offered diplomatic support to Kiev, most notably in March 2014. 

As a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Jordan voted in favour of UN Resolution 68/262, which recognised the “territorial integrity of Ukraine”. 

The resolution was tabled in response to the then-nascent conflict in eastern Ukraine, and the Russian military incursions in Crimea and Donbass, the statement said. 

“Ukrainians will always remember this very essential and strong support of Jordan,” the embassy added.

In the first 10 months of this year, according to the embassy, trade between Jordan and Ukraine reached $129.5 million, a 30.5 per cent increase from the previous year. 

Fifty-six per cent of Jordanian exports to Ukraine are pharmaceutical products. 

Weekly charter flights between Kiev and Aqaba are also due to operate until January 2017, and then again from March until November 2017, the statement said.