Посол України Нідерландах О.Горін зустрівся з генеральним секретарем Міжнародної федерації асоціацій професійних футболістів FIFPro Тео Ван Сегеленом. Сторони обговорили питання проведення Євро-2012 в Україні. За результатами зустрічі було домовлено про оприлюднення прес-релізу:

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On Friday morning, FIFPro’s secretary general Theo van Seggelen welcomed the Ukrainian ambassador to the Netherlands to the headquarters of FIFPro in Hoofddorp, the Netherlands. The two discussed the forthcoming European Championship in Ukraine and Poland, EURO 2012.

The reason for the meeting was several statements made by Van Seggelen about the European Championship and the role of both host countries, Poland and Ukraine. ‘It was never my intention to shed a bad light on the two organising countries and on Ukraine in particular’, Van Seggelen explained to Ambassador Olexandr Horin.

‘What I wanted to make clear was my concern about the safety of the players’, Van Seggelen continued. ‘I hope that both countries and the UEFA succeed in preventing hooligans from disrupting this fantastic event.’

‘I would also like to offer my apologies to the residents of Kharkiv. I said that this city was “in the middle of nowhere”. I was wrong. I have since learnt from my colleagues in Ukraine and from ambassador Horin that Kharkiv is a beautiful, historic city - actually the first capital of Ukraine - and that Kharkiv has one and a half million residents. I apologise to all of them.’

‘I wish the people of both Ukraine and Poland a wonderful and successful EURO 2012.’

Ambassador Horin said he looked back at a good meeting with secretary general Van Seggelen: ‘We had a fruitful and open discussion about EURO 2012 issues. I am completely happy that FIFPro fully supports the tournament and that FIFPro wishes both Ukraine and Poland success with the organization of this event.’

‘I wish that all football fans from European countries, and in particular the Dutch fans, enjoy their stay in Ukraine.’