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Viktor Yanukovych: The European integration issue unites and consolidates Ukrainian society
27.05.2008, 15:44
Party of Regions Leader Viktor Yanukovych met with ambassadors of the European Union Member-States. The meeting took place on an embassy invitation from the Republic of Slovenia which presently presides at the EU. Viktor Yanukovych, as the Head of the largest parliamentary faction expressed his vision of political and economic situation in Ukraine, and answered the diplomats' questions.
"The Party of Regions completely advocates the Euro-integration course. It is a program point, it was envisaged back in 1997, when the Party of Regions was formed", Viktor Yanukovych marked. According to him, in spite of discrepancy in home policy, there is a consensus about European integration in Ukraine. "This issue unites and consolidates Ukrainian society", the Party of Regions Leader noted. "We wish negotiations on signing a new extended treaty between Ukraine and the EU, launched by my Government, ended in clear-cut Ukraine's European prospects."
At the same time Viktor Yanukovych declaimed against Euro-integration as a one-way street with one-side commitment. "We think that the European partners should make steps towards Ukraine", the Party of Regions Leader mentioned.
Discussing Euro-Atlantic integration Viktor Yanukovych pointed out that the Party of Regions stands for nonaligned status of Ukraine. The entry issue can be called in question only following an all-Ukrainian referendum", Viktor Yanukovych said.
Speaking about relationship with the Russian Federation, Viktor Yanukovych underlined that the Party of Regions always stood for special mutual relations.
"Unfortunately, at the moment the authorities are not paying enough attention to relationship with Russia. As a result, the Ukrainian economy suffers. We are losing time, initiative and opportunities. A set of vital issues for Ukraine remain unsolved and undetermined. Take, for example, the agreement on gas supply. My Government guaranteed stability of gas system operation and ensured gas transportation to the EU", Viktor Yanukovych mentioned. "The authorities should focus on improving relationship with Russia. If problems occur, they should be settled rather than left deadlocked, as it is done presently."
Answering a question on Kyiv elections result, Viktor Yanukovych marked that it is far from being unexpected. "We understood well that elections circumventing the law would be not regarded by Kyiv citizens. Ukraine and the world saw that the so-called "democratic coalition" replaced legality with political expedience again", Viktor Yanukovych stressed out.
According to him, the Party of Regions in Verkhovna Rada managed to cease a number of decrees on conducting pre-term elections in other cities, as this could entail chaos.
"The result of Kyiv elections will shake the coalition, which is now nominal. Kyiv elections is the next step to a coalition collapse", the Party of Regions Leader pointed out. | |
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