Brussels, 24/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 24 October, Lithuania's Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Andrius Krivas stated in Brussels that, if the association agreement is not signed between the EU and Ukraine at the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius at the end of November, “there will be a clear set back” in their relations. He reiterated that the conditions set out by the EU do not focus solely on the Tymoshenko case “but it's the most difficult part of what remains to be done”, he said at a press conference. He hoped for a result “crowned with success” for the “spectacular efforts” of the European Parliament's mission of presidents Cox and Kwasniewski, which is working on selective justice (see EUROPE 10944). He said that the EU's decision on signing has been put off until the Foreign Affairs Council on 18 November. This decision was previously planned for 21 October. The heads of state and government will discuss the Eastern Partnership issue on 25 October.
On 24 October, the foreign ministers of Sweden and Slovakia, Carl Bildt and Mirsolav Lajcak, spoke of their “concerns that Ukraine will not be ready to sign the association agreement with the EU in the current state of things” (our translation throughout). (CG/transl.fl)