His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday morning granted an audience to the President of the Republic of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych and conferred the state decorations, "The Most Esteemed Family Order Laila Utama - DK" to the visiting president, who is currently in the Sultanate for a three-day state visit.

Upon arriving at the Istana Nurul Iman, His Majesty greeted and welcomed President Viktor Yanukovych. His Majesty and President Viktor Yanukovych received a royal salute followed by the national anthem of both countries and a 21-gun salute.

His Majesty then led the visiting Ukraine President to inspect the guard of honour mounted by the Royal Brunei Land Forces and introduced the visiting president to members of the royal family, state dignitaries, Cabinet Ministers, deputy ministers as well as other senior government officials.

The Ukraine President arrived in Brunei Darussalam Tuesday and was welcomed by Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Mohd Yusof, the Minister of Health in his capacity as the Minister-in-Attendance at the Brunei International Airport.

The visiting delegation comprises Serhiy L'ovochkin, Head of the Administration of the President; Kostyantyn Gryshchenko, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Adrii Goncharuk, Deputy Head of the Administration and Diplomatic Counsellor to the President; Yuriy Ladnyi, Deputy Head of the Administration, Chief of Cabinet and Chief of Protocol and Ceremonies to the President; Pavlo Sultansky, Ambassador of Ukraine to Brunei Darussalam; Andrii Kravets, Chief of State Administrative Department; Mykhailo Kulyniak, Minister of Culture and Tourism; Vladyslav Kas'kiv, Head of State Agency for Investments and National Projects Management of Ukraine and other senior officials from Ukraine.

Shortly after, His Majesty and the President of the Republic of Ukraine proceeded to the Cheradi Laila Kenchana for the audience ceremony. Also in attendance were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office; His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade; His Royal Highness Prince Haji 'Abdul 'Azim; His Royal Highness Prince 'Abdul Malik; and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Ambassador at Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade as well as other members of the royal family.

During the audience ceremony, His Majesty consented to confer the state decorations of 'The Most Esteemed Family Order Laila Utama - DK' to the Ukraine President. The Ukraine President then presented His Majesty with Ukraine's state decorations, "Order of Merit, 1st Class".

Following the audience, His Majesty and the President of Ukraine proceeded to Cheradi Ratna Kenchana for a 'Four-Eye meeting'.

After the meeting, His Majesty and President Viktor Yanukovych witnessed a signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of defence. Signing for Brunei Darussalam was HRH Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade and signing for Ukraine was Kostyantyn Gryshchenko, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Ukraine.

Witnessing the signing ceremony was HRH Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office. Also in attendance were the Minister of Health, Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan, Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar, Minister of Finance II at the Prime Minister's Office, Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Ibrahim, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng and Deputy Minister of Defence Dato Paduka Awang Haji Mustappa bin Haji Sirat. - Borneo Bulletin (31st March 2011)