BRUSSELS: European Union foreign ministers yesterday issued an “urgent appeal” to Ukraine for action on jailed former premier Yulia Tymoshenko to enable the signature of a key free trade deal with the EU.
“It is an urgent appeal to Ukraine to act now,” said German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle as he joined talks with his 27 EU counterparts. “Time is running out.”
Ukraine and the EU are set to sign a deal in the Lithuanian capital on November 28-29 marking a first step towards entry into the bloc — but only on condition Kiev meets basic principles, including a fair judicial system.
Crucial to that is for Ukraine’s parliament to pass legislation allowing Tymoshenko to go abroad for treatment and to clarify the conditions of her return — whether and when she can return to the political arena. But concern has mounted over the fate of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement after Ukraine’s parliament failed on Friday to agree a text that would have enabled prisoners such as Tymoshenko to seek medical treatment abroad.
EU nations have criticised the government of President Viktor Yanukovych, her arch rival, of practising selective justice against its opponents.
“Everything is in the hands of President Yanukovych,” said Sweden’s Foreign Minister Carl Bildt as he joined the meeting. “We have a policy, I’m not quite certain he’s got a policy.”
The Ukraine parliament meets from today, meaning “there is still time” for a deal, said Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius.
AFP
