Ukraine not prepared to legalize same-sex marriages, as demanded by EU - Azarov
KYIV. Dec 14 (Interfax) - To conclude a visa-free travel agreement between Ukraine and the European Union, Ukraine needs to legalize same-sex marriages and adopt legislation on equal rights of sexual minorities, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said.
"The opposition leaders are telling fables when they say that we only have to sign the [association] agreement [with the EU] to start traveling to Europe visa-free the next day. Nothing of the sort. We have yet to comply with a whole set of preconditions: we have to legalize same-sex marriages, we have to adopt legislation on equality of sexual minorities, and so on," Azarov said at a pro-government rally on European Square in Kyiv on Saturday.
Ukrainians are not prepared for this, and the church is also against such steps, Azarov said.
Ukraine is also not prepared for introducing biometric passports, he said.