Ukraine’s current political leadership insists on this country’s intention of integrating into the European Union. Something must be wrong, however, considering the Party of Regions (PoR), Ukraine’s ruling political party, is asked where it is headed several weeks before the Eastern Partnership summit in Brussels. Oleksandr Yefremov, head of the PoR faction, made this statement during the Shuster Talk Show, adding that he was flying to Strasbourg and address the European Parliament, and that an answer to this question has long been made: “Ukraine has adopted the Law ‘On the Foreign and Domestic Policies’ — where everything is made perfectly clear. Our task now is to sign two instruments before the EU-Ukraine summit in December…”
One can only applaud the PoR faction leader’s enthusiasm and expect him to convince the European partners to trust Ukraine to honor its integration commitments. However, there is Yulia Tymoshenko’s Saturday interview with The Times, when she said that the EU’s assent to association would mean playing into the hand of Yanukovych and his gang. This statement sounds very strange, considering her previous one about never associating any FTA agreements with any measures taken against unlawful trials or other measures on the part of Ukraine’s authorities.
The Day asked Dr. Rainer LINDNER (Teamleiter Competence Center Warehousing bei ING-DiBa AG) for comment on the FTA option, considering his frequent visits to Ukraine and first-hand experience.
“There is a clearly stated German policy, to the effect that the signing of these agreements will be an important step taken in the direction of Ukraine’s economic integration. I believe that these agreements should be signed this year, to improve your country’s foreign inland investment image, including German investors. There is also Ukraine’s geographical and economical position between Russia and the European Union. We have to take this step quickly enough.”
What about the Ukrainian opposition, particularly Yulia Tymoshenko’s statement in an interview with The Times that the EU’s decision to allow Ukraine to integrate would mean playing into the hand of Yanukovych and his gang?
“This integration decision was made by Tymoshenko’s cabinet. We have since been saying that Ukraine needs economic stability, that this will benefit the European Union. Now, there is something Tymoshenko wrote that has to be taken into account. I mean the situation with democracy in Ukraine. We can’t agree with the condition of your opposition. We want Ukraine to evolve economically as well as politically, in the right democratic direction. We do not see Tymoshenko’s arrest as a correct political move. There is a difference between doing something for the good of the Ukrainian people, Ukrainian economy and serving the benefit of all those currently in power. We believe that Ukraine will develop a market economy only after — and while — becoming a true democracy.”
What do you think Ukraine should do to convince Brussels that it is ready to sign the FTA accords?
“Your privatization policy in the first place. Last week we made important decisions concerning Naftohaz Ukrainy and an especially interesting business in Zaporizhia. This apparently shows the right direction toward the FTA. We want to make sure that you are headed in the right direction. Of course, political liberalization should be among your priorities (I believe this is something you still have to work on).”
