FT Interview with
Hryhoriy Nemyria
___________________________________
YULIA TYMOSHENKO
Official
Website
GOVERNMENT
PORTAL
Inform
SUBSCRIBE
Premier Reaffirms Commitment to Europe and Friendly Relations with Russia
29 September 2009
Published in
Inform
issue #126
See the full issue here.
Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has re-emphasised Ukraine’s commitment to becoming a member of the EU while supporting friendly and pragmatic relations with Russia. That was the central message she delivered at the 6th Yalta European Strategy (YES) summit in the Crimea on Friday.
During her speech, entitled “Vision of the future of Ukraine,” the premier stressed that her strategy does not imply multi-vectorism, but a commonsense choice, calling for greater EU integration but at the same time pragmatic, mutually beneficial, friendly, constructive relations with Russia.
“Ukraine has made a clear choice – the European community. But partnership, pragmatic, mutually beneficial and friendly relations with Russia, one of our neighbours, to my mind, make an important integral part of Ukraine’s logical development,” said Ms Tymoshenko.
See the full issue here.
Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has re-emphasised Ukraine’s commitment to becoming a member of the EU while supporting friendly and pragmatic relations with Russia. That was the central message she delivered at the 6th Yalta European Strategy (YES) summit in the Crimea on Friday.
During her speech, entitled “Vision of the future of Ukraine,” the premier stressed that her strategy does not imply multi-vectorism, but a commonsense choice, calling for greater EU integration but at the same time pragmatic, mutually beneficial, friendly, constructive relations with Russia.
“Ukraine has made a clear choice – the European community. But partnership, pragmatic, mutually beneficial and friendly relations with Russia, one of our neighbours, to my mind, make an important integral part of Ukraine’s logical development,” said Ms Tymoshenko.
In her speech the head of the government dismissed
the old fashioned east-west stereotypes that have
characterised Ukrainian politics for too long. “A
bad tradition to ask questions still exists: are
you with mother or with father, are you with east
or with west, are you with western countries or
with Russia? I consider this is not just a
non-productive question, it is an extremely harmful
question for Ukraine as nowadays it is deprived of
any political sense.”
While holding out an olive branch to Russia, Ms Tymoshenko took the opportunity to apologise to EU states for the “temporary discomfort” caused by last January’s gas dispute. She talked about the normalisation of gas relations with Russia and the successful conclusion of the 10-year strategic gas agreement with Gazprom. This landmark deal will see Ukraine pay market prices for gas imports in 2010, based upon a clear commercial formula, which removes politics from the equation.
In discussing Ukraine’s “choice for Europe,” Ms Tymoshenko hoped that the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, offered in Paris in September 2008, will be signed before next year’s presidential elections slated for 17 January. While this may be a tall order given the impact of the global downturn on the pace of legislative reforms, Ms Tymoshenko nevertheless suggested, “It will be a strong consolidating factor for pro-European politicians in Ukraine.” The premier also underlined her faith in a European security and defence policy.
The YES summit was held at the Livadia Palace in Yalta. The gathering, billed by the organisers as “the largest informal forum on strategic relations on Ukraine and the world,” attracted the top three candidates in the forthcoming presidential election, together with policy-makers, business leaders and public leaders. The chief topic was the post-crisis development of Ukraine and the global economy. Key areas for debate included the global downturn, the future of Ukraine’s economy, Ukraine and the EU, energy security, Ukrainian-Russian relations and the impact of China on the development of the global economy.
While holding out an olive branch to Russia, Ms Tymoshenko took the opportunity to apologise to EU states for the “temporary discomfort” caused by last January’s gas dispute. She talked about the normalisation of gas relations with Russia and the successful conclusion of the 10-year strategic gas agreement with Gazprom. This landmark deal will see Ukraine pay market prices for gas imports in 2010, based upon a clear commercial formula, which removes politics from the equation.
In discussing Ukraine’s “choice for Europe,” Ms Tymoshenko hoped that the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, offered in Paris in September 2008, will be signed before next year’s presidential elections slated for 17 January. While this may be a tall order given the impact of the global downturn on the pace of legislative reforms, Ms Tymoshenko nevertheless suggested, “It will be a strong consolidating factor for pro-European politicians in Ukraine.” The premier also underlined her faith in a European security and defence policy.
The YES summit was held at the Livadia Palace in Yalta. The gathering, billed by the organisers as “the largest informal forum on strategic relations on Ukraine and the world,” attracted the top three candidates in the forthcoming presidential election, together with policy-makers, business leaders and public leaders. The chief topic was the post-crisis development of Ukraine and the global economy. Key areas for debate included the global downturn, the future of Ukraine’s economy, Ukraine and the EU, energy security, Ukrainian-Russian relations and the impact of China on the development of the global economy.