KIEV, Sept. 7 - President Viktor Yushchenko said he supports the accelerated integration of Ukrainian aircraft manufacturing into the world aircraft industry, and assigning additional funds for purchasing domestic aircraft through the state leasing company.

Yushchenko made the comment while on a visit to the Antonov Design Bureau.

He viewed the bureau's aircraft assembly hall and its dynamic testing and aircraft modeling facilities. The president also inspected an An-148 aircraft at one of the bureau's departments. At a meeting with the enterprise's staff, he congratulated the employees on Aviation Day, which was celebrated on Aug. 29.