Yanukovych: Ukraine counts on EU economic support in preparing for association
KYIV. Nov 29 (Interfax) - Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has urged the European Union to work together with him on a program of economic assistance to Ukraine.
"Today Ukraine needs to prepare, in particular, due to the new trade and economic circumstances, not only for the timely implementation of the association agreement but also for minimizing the negative implications of the initial period which the least protected strata of the Ukrainian population will certainly experience. This requires our joint work on a program of economic assistance to Ukraine, which will allow us to prepare for signing this agreement. In our opinion, this program should be the fruit of the joint efforts of Ukraine and the European Union," the president said in his remarks at the Eastern Partnership Vilnius summit on Friday.
The European choice remains the strategic direction in Ukraine's development as well as the strengthening of the country's place and role in the contemporary competitive world, Yanukovych told the plenary meeting.
"The forced-choice pause in the conclusion of the agreement does not mean that the European integration reforms extremely needed by Ukraine will stop," the presidential press service cited Yanukovych as saying on Friday.
Ukraine regards the association agreement as a detailed plan of comprehensive modernization consistent with European values and standards, he said. "We are inclined to be insistent in carrying on this work," the president emphasized.
