Clinton begins tour of Eastern Europe

KIEV, Ukraine, July 2 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton began a five-day tour of Eastern Europe Friday in Ukraine, meeting with its president, Viktor Yanukovych, aides said.

While in Kiev, Clinton also was scheduled to meet with Foreign Minister Kostyantyn Hryshchenko, former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who lost a bitter election to Yanukovych, media leaders and civil society groups, Radio Free Europe reported.

Clinton will also will visit Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Poland during her tour of former Communist states.

Clinton was expected to raise the issue of eroding press freedoms in Ukraine during a town hall meeting at Kiev Polytechnic University, the BBC reported.

"The symbolism of Ukraine's democratic progress still matters for the region and beyond, and (Clinton) will be highlighting our hopes for the protection and advancement of democracy in Ukraine," Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon said.

Gordon said the State Department hoped improved U.S.-Russia relations would pave the way for diplomacy with countries such as Ukraine.

In Azerbaijan and Armenia, Clinton is expected to push for a resolution of regional conflicts and seek improved U.S. access to a route used for supplying troops to Afghanistan, the British broadcaster said.

In Georgia, Clinton will be offering assurances to Georgian government officials that they still have U.S. support despite Washington's attempt to improve relations with Russia, the State Department said. Georgia and Russia engaged in a brief war in 2008.