US President George W. Bush said on Monday that the United States supports Ukraine's desire to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the lifting of the Soviet-era Jackson-Vanik law barring Washington from delivering favorable US trade tariffs to the USSR.

"We also agree with your desire to join the WTO, and we will work with your government to join the WTO, as well as to lift the Jackson-Vanik trade restrictions that were created in a different era," Bush said at a joint press conference with visiting Ukraine President Viktor Yushchenko.

Bush said he asked the Congress to provide 60 million dollars to help Ukraine strengthen law enforcement, fight corruption and promote a free media and civil society organization.

Yushchenko arrived in Washington Sunday for a five-day visit and he is scheduled to address a joint session of the Congress on Wednesday.

(Xinhua News Agency April 5, 2005)