He said it Sunday in an interview with the ICTV channel.
No one in Europe perceives the suspension of Ukraine’s integration in the EU as a tragedy, Azarov said. He referred to a statement by the European Commission President Stefan Fuele, who had indicated that the agreement on association might be signed at the next summit in the Ukraine-EU format.
“Look, this proves that absolutely no one in Europe looks upon the fact as if it were a tragedy, the way that our oppositionists try to peddle it in order to destabilize the social and political situation in the country,” Azarov said.
“In reality, though, the EU fully understands our economic situation and Fuele’s statement actually shows there’s nothing tragic in the fact and the agreement might be signed at the next summit,” he said. “It shows that common sense does exist and that we took a correct decision because we must find some compensatory mechanisms now.”
“We shouldn’t by any means ignore the problems that emerge,” Azarov said.
November 21, the Ukrainian government decided to suspend the preparations for the signing of the agreement that was due to take place at the EU summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, November 28-29.
On the evening of the same day, many Ukrainians came to the city’s Independence Square to protest against the cabinet’s decision.
- Up to 3,000 people are gathering downtown Kreshchatik Avenue every time since then. Similar protest actions are being held in other regions of the country, too.
25/11/13
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Ukraine police clash with pro-EU protesters in Kiev...
ReplyDeleteClashes between protesters and police have erupted as tens of thousands demanded that Kiev sign a landmark trade deal with the EU next week as planned. Ukraine is widely seen to have bowed to pressure from Moscow not to sign the agreement.
Tens of thousands of Ukrainian protesters, angered that Kiev has dropped plans to sign a landmark trade deal with the EU, clashed with police on Sunday as they tried to storm the government building in the capital.
Protesters waving EU flags tried to break through the police ranks surrounding the building, with some throwing stones and hitting officers with the signs they were carrying, as police fought back with batons and tear gas.
Police estimated attendance at the rally at around 23,000 people while the opposition said more than 100,000 people had turned out.
In the biggest street demonstrations Kiev has seen since the 2004 Orange Revolution, opposition leaders joined calls on President Viktor Yanukovich to sign the Association Agreement with the European Union on November 29 as originally planned.
Yanukovich is widely seen to have bowed to pressure from Moscow not to sign the deal, which is seen as a first step toward eventual EU membership and which would have solidified Kiev’s break from Russia.
Prime Minister Mykola Azarov’s government stunned European leaders on Thursday by announcing it was suspending preparations for signing the pact after years of negotiations. Azarov said the decision was made to "ensure the national security of Ukraine" after taking into account the effects on trade with Russia.
Moscow reportedly threatened Ukraine that signing the EU deal would have negative consequences on reviving trade and economic talks with Russia.
Ukraine was initially scheduled to sign the pact at an EU summit with Eastern European countries in Lithuania on November 28-29. Kiev announced Thursday that it had stopped the preparations after lawmakers failed to agree on legislation that would free jailed former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, a key condition of the EU.
(FRANCE 24 with AP, AFP, REUTERS)
http://www.france24.com/en/20131124-ukraine-protesters-demand-kiev-trade-deal-eu-association-agreement?ns_campaign=editorial&ns_source=RSS_public&ns_mchannel=RSS&ns_fee=0&ns_linkname=20131124_ukraine_protesters_demand_kiev_trade_deal
25/11/13