Sultan Welcomes Ukrainian President

His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and Her Majesty the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajjah Saleha have consented to grant an audience to the President of Ukraine, His Excellency Leonid Kuchma and First Lady, Her Excellency Lyudmyla Kuchma who are here for a three-day state visit.

The Ukrainian President and wife arrived in the country last night to an official welcome at Istana Nurul Iman.

Prior to the audience, a welcoming ceremony took place at the Palace Compound. His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei and Her Majesty the Raja Isteri consented to welcome His Excellency and the Ukraine First Lady.

Upon arrival, Their Majesties, His Excellency and the First Lady of Ukraine proceeded to the Royal Dais to receive the royal salute. The National anthem of Ukraine and Brunei Darussalam were played, followed by a 21-royal gun salute.

His Excellency Leonid Kuchma and His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei later inspected a guard of honour mounted by personnel of the Royal Brunei Land Forces.

Later, His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei and Her Majesty the Raja Isteri granted an audience to His Excellency the Ukraine President and Her Excellency the First Lady.

Brunei and Ukraine established diplomatic relations on the third of October 1997. Present at audience were His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah and Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Zariah, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah and Datin Hajah Faezah, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Saadatul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Amal Umi Kalthum Al-Islam.

His Majesty also consented to bestow a State Decoration, the Darjah Kerabat Seri Utama Yang Amat Dihormati, DK or the Most Esteemed family Order Laila Utama to Her Excellency Lyudmyla Kuchma. His Excellency the Ukrainian President also bestowed the Order of Princess Olha, First Class on Her Majesty the Raja Isteri.

After the audience ceremony, His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei and His Excellency Leonid Kuchma held a bilateral meeting. Present at the meeting was His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah.

Others present were Pehin Dato Awang Haji Isa, the Special Advisor to His Majesty at the Prime Minister's Office and the Minister of Home Affairs; Pehin Dato Awang Haji Abu Bakar, Minister of Health, who is the Minister-in-Attendance; and Permanent Secretaries at the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

His Excellency Leonid Kuchma became the second President of Ukraine since July 1994 and re-elected on November 1999. Ukraine gained independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. It is located at the Eastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Poland and Russia.

Meanwhile, His Excellency Leonid Kuchma and the Ukranian First Lady had a separate itinerary yesterday.

Yesterday afternoon, the Ukranian President visited the Headquarters of the Brunei Liquified Natural Gas Plant in Lumut.

Dato Haji Hamdillah, Managing Director of the Brunei LNG, and senior officials of the plant greeted the arrival of the Ukrainian leader.

His Excellency was briefed on the organisation and function of the Brunei LNG before being taken to various sections of the plant. Brunei LNG started its operation in 1973 and, is one of the main suppliers of liquefied natural gas in Asia.

Apart from its main buyers, Japan and Korea, BLNG also delivered its first LNG to Spain and the United States last year. Under the long-term master plan, it envisages a further extension of the present contract with the buyers beyond 2013.

In its efforts to sustain its production, Brunei LNG is in the process of replacing some of its old equipment. The plant is now embarking on a $120-million project to replace four of its MCHE unit to ensure LNG supply to its buyers for the next 30 years