Extension of Europarl mission will require consent from Ukraine govt and opposition - Pat Cox
BRUSSELS. Dec 5 (Interfax) - Former European Parliament President Pat Cox has said that a decision to prolong the Cox-Kwasniewski mission in Ukraine will require consent both from the leaders of the European Parliament's political groups and Ukraine's authorities and opposition.
Cox made this statement to reporters in Brussels after European Parliament President Martin Schulz announced plans to extend this mission for Ukraine.
President Schulz should keep in touch with the Ukrainian side and understand whether it has the goodwill to accept the mission's help and advice instead of treating it as interference, Cox said.
These details ought to be discussed as part of dialogue between the European Parliament and Kyiv, he said.
Cox also said that the mission was prepared to continue its work if the European Parliament president and key political figures in Ukraine's government and opposition believe, and if the European Parliament itself believes, that there is any point in going ahead with this mission.
However, dialogue should take place in order to make this choice, he said.
The mission was established through an exchange of letters between Schulz and Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, Cox said.