Brussels, 30/08/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 29 August, members of the Ukrainian opposition called on the EU member states to approve the association agreement. “We ask the European countries to understand and approve the decision on the association agreement, not by basing on the fact that Yanukovych's regime may fulfil all the conditions but motivated by the future of Ukraine in its relationship with Europe. The European leaders' decision must be based on the future of Europe”, stated Oleh Tiahnybok (Svoboda), at the end of his meeting with Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle.
Just like two other members of the opposition who were also there, from two different parties, Vitali Klitschko (UDAR) and Arseniy Yatseniuk (Batkisvshyna), Tiahnybok stressed the importance of signing the association agreement between the EU and Ukraine. In their opinion, this signature would allow Ukraine to become a full member of the European family, of “a wide democratic European area”, said Yatseniuk. “The future of Ukraine is European integration. This is a priority for Ukraine”, said Klitschko.
The previous day, Yatseniuk and Klitschko had called, in front of MEPs, for the agreement to be signed. “We are aware of the crucial importance of this agreement”, Klitschko said, adding that “the success or failure of the agreement will not only have an effect on Ukraine but also on the situation in many countries in the region”. “Geographically, we are European. Historically too. We have a European mentality but a standard of living that is not European. We want to reach a European level”, said Klitschko. “The best plan of action is to implement the agreement. If we implement it, we will be truly pro-European”, added Yatseniuk.
Cooperating with the majority. The opposition promised in front of MEPs and Füle that it would do everything possible to adopt the legislative texts “on European integration”, the laws necessary to fulfil the conditions for signing the agreement. “We will vote through the laws on European integration and (…) we will stimulate the authorities so the decisions will be positive for our country”, said Tiahnybok. The opposition called on the majority and the government to work to fulfil the three conditions required by the EU.
Welcoming the fact that the three leaders of the opposition clearly support Ukraine's European agenda, Füle stated that “critical legislative work needs to be carried out in the Verkhovna Rada by all political parties in early autumn”. “The EU will assess Ukraine's implementation of the benchmarks already in October”, he warned. In Füle's opinion, “despite the pressure of time, one would expect a full-fledged process in Verkhovna Rada where there is going to be time not only for voting but also for a due consideration”.
Ukrainian issue at the G20. Members of the opposition called on Füle to support them against the threats from Russia if the agreement is signed (see EUROPE 10906), by discussing the Ukrainian issue at the G20 summit in St Petersburg (Russia) on 5-6 September. “Füle told us that he would do everything possible and that he would try to speak about it”, said Yatseniuk. Füle will not be attending the G20, however, although the president of the European Commission could speak about it. Nevertheless, according to European officials, trade issues with Ukraine are not due to be tackled at the G20. (CG/transl.fl)