New Ukrainian government should be mindful of its neighbor Russia - observers
KYIV. Oct 27 (Interfax) - Ukraine's new leadership should continue the course towards integration with Europe, but remain mindful of Russia as a neighbor, European observers have said.
Christopher Chope, leader of the delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, said Ukraine could be a good neighbor to both the European Union and Russia. The problem is, he said, that Russia suspects the European Union of planning to absorb Ukraine. The future of Ukraine depends on its people, however," he said at a press conference in Kyiv on Monday.
The parliamentary elections demonstrated that the Ukrainian people want to live in a strong country, whose sovereignty would be recognized by all, he said.
Kent Harstedt, special coordinator and chief of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's mission of short-term observers, said that Russia remains one of Ukraine's major neighbors, something the new government will have to reckon with while continuing the policy of European integration.
Rasa Jukneviciene, leader of the delegation of NATO Parliamentary Assembly, said the Ukrainian people alone must decide which organization or integrated system Ukraine should join.
Ukrainians themselves should file an application and decide which organization they want to be with, she said.