16/04/2012 (Agence Europe) - Catherine Ashton “disappointed” by verdict against former defence minister. On Friday 13 April, the EU high representative for foreign affairs expressed her “disappointment” with the five-year sentence meted out the previous day against former Ukrainian defence minister, Valery Ivashchenko. Ashton underlined the fact that despite the repeated appeals made to Ukraine to respect international standards on fair trials, particularly with regard to transparency and judicial independence, this case demonstrates significant shortcomings in this area. She also noted “with concern” the verdict delivered against the former minister for the environment, Heorhiy Filipchuk, who was charged with abuse of power and given a three-year prison sentence. Ashton stressed that she would continue to follow the appeals process closely and hoped that the shortcomings in the first trials would be tackled accordingly. She added that respect for the primacy of law was of crucial importance with regard to the speed with which the political association and economic integration of Ukraine with the EU would come about. (CG/transl.fl)