click for picture from Yahoo! News

King Albert received Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko at Laeken Royal Palace in Brussels on October 15.

During the meeting, a great number of questions were discussed, including cultural and economical cooperation, bilateral relations, as well as European and Euro-Atlantic ambitions of Ukraine.

President Yushchenko gave an interview, where he stressed Belgium’s importance for Ukraine, noting: “Belgium as a representative of an Old Europe is a special partner. Cooperation with Belgium enables us to solve considerable part of Ukrainian issues in Europe”.

Yushchenko is on 2-day visit to Belgium – the first ever official visit by a Ukrainian President since the countries established diplomatic contact.

The President will hold meetings with Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barrose, President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek and others.

Marsel Belgian Royals King Albert II, Official Visit, President Yushchenko, Ukraine

The Grand Duke this week has held three audiences, the first of which, on Tuesday, was with the Prime Minister of the Ukraine, Yulia Timochenko.

Click here to see the image from the Cour Grand-Ducale.

He then recieved on Friday the recipients of the Order of Adolphe, a chivalric order officially known as the Ordre du Mérite Civil et Militaire d’Adolphe de Nassau that was originally created for members of the Duchy of Nassau, and has now passed on to the Duke’s successor territory, Luxembourg. The award recognises those who have “performed meritorious actions or heroic deeds in the name of Luxembourg.”

The Grand Duke also recieved on Friday, along with the Grand Duchess, the tourist guides of the Luxembourg City Tourist Office who will be accompanying visitors around the Grand-Ducal Palace during its summer opening.

For more information, please see this thread.

alex001 Luxembourg Royals Audience, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, Grand Duke Henri, Orders, Ukraine