YEREVAN. - President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan paid an official visit to Ukraine after nearly a ten-year break. 

Within the framework of the visit Serzh Sargsyan and his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovych held a tete-a-tete meeting followed by talks in a large format when a number of documents was signed.

One of the key topics was the Karabakh peace process. Speaking at a press conference Armenian leader said that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and the OSCE mediators confirmed their intention to intensify mediatory efforts despite the failure of Kazan talks.

“During a phone conversation Russian President Medvedev informed me he had sent his views on the problem in written form. I think we will soon receive it to see how to move forward,” Sargsyan said.

Later it was revealed that Medvedev also had sent a letter to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

In his turn Viktor Yanukovych promised assistance in resolving the Karabakh conflict during Ukraine’s chairmanship in OSCE.

Armenia’s ruling coalition drew attention to changes in Ukraine’s once pro-Azerbaijani stance.

Talking to Armenian News-NEWS.am secretary of the ruling Republican party parliamentary group Eduard Sharmazanov said that Ukrainian president made a very balanced statement not separating out the principle of territorial integrity among other Helsinki Principles.

“Armenian leader’s visit to Ukraine was very important as the sides have not exchanged visits at such a high level for many years. The visit is of great priority especially in the context of Ukraine’s clear pro-Azerbaijani stance,” he said.

On the whole, the trip developed Armenian-Ukrainian relations to a qualitatively new level, he added.

Member of Armenia-Ukraine parliamentary friendship group, MP from opposition Heritage Party Larisa Alaverdyan considers that Armenia’s contacts with any country, including Ukraine, are very important in terms of advancing the states interests.

She stressed that during Yanukovych’s tenure Yerevan may expect positive changes in Kiev’s policy on the issues related to Armenia, including the Karabakh peace process.

“Yanukovych’s policy on Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh is characterized by balanced position, in contrast to the flamboyant policy of his predecessor Viktor Yushchenko,” the MP added.

As regards the Karabakh conflict, the MP does not cherish much hope on future presidency of Ukraine in the OSCE.

“Until Armenia specifies its position on the Karabakh issue, it is senseless to expect it from the third countries,” said Alaverdyan.

However, she expressed the hope that the Armenian president’s visit to Ukraine will intensify bilateral cultural and economic ties.

Many experts explain fluctuations in Ukraine’s position by changes in the country’s foreign policy. Ukraine’s ‘orange movement’ headed by Viktor Yushchenko and Yulia Tymoshenko had pro-Western polsition which did not suggest development of relations with Armenia - the only military and strategic ally of Russia in the Caucasus.

The experts consider the situation began to change only in the context of normalization of Ukrainian-Russian relations, once Viktor Yanukovych came to power. However, it is too early to foresee perspectives of the development of current trend.