13/09/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Friday, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko held a telephone conversation with the president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, to personally inform him of the reasons that led to his dismissing the whole of the government last week (see EUROPE 9024) and to his appointing Yuri Iekjanourov as the new prime minister. On this occasion, Mr Barroso restated that it was in the EU's “strong interest” for Ukraine to be stable and democratic, a Commission spokesperson said. Mr Barroso also expressed the hope that recent developments would not impede the reform process in Ukraine. EU High Representative for CFSP Javier Solana has been in contact with several Ukrainian officials in recent days and has assured them that the EU will continue to give its support to an ambitious programme for political and economic reform in their country.