ADAMKUS URGES UKRAINE TO JOINTLY FIGHT CRISIS, SEEK EU ENTRY. Visiting Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus told his Ukrainian counterpart, Leonid Kuchma, on 5 November that Lithuania and Ukraine should join forces to counteract the economic and financial crisis in the region, dpa reported. Both countries agreed to speed up negotiations on a free trade agreement and to develop projects related to the Baltic-Black Sea transport routes. Adamkus said the two countries should also work together to gain admission to European structures, Reuters reported. The EU considers the slow pace of market reform in Ukraine a hindrance to that country's EU candidacy, while the European Commission said earlier this week that Lithuania's hope for fast-track negotiations on EU membership is premature (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 5 November 1998). JM