Tymoshenko case must not affect Association Agreement with EU - ministry
KYIV. Oct 11 (Interfax) - Any internal processes in Ukraine, including the verdict against ex-prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, must not affect the process of concluding the Association Agreement with the European Union, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry said.
"Any internal processes or passing events cannot be a reason for refusal from such reciprocity [on the question of European integration] since we are talking about strategic prospects for the EU-Ukrainian relations," the ministry said.
"The Tymoshenko case is not an exception and must not have any adverse effect on the process of concluding the Association Agreement, which is what Mrs. Tymoshenko herself stated repeatedly," the ministry said.
On Tuesday, Tymoshenko was found guilty of violations in brokering the 2009 gas agreements with Russia and sentenced to seven years of imprisonment.
The Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU is meant to continue the process of unification of Europe, which began two decades ago, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said.
"Therefore, limiting the EU-Ukraine relations with a neighborhood status is totally unacceptable for Ukraine. Under the agreement, we assumed the obligations which are commensurate with those of candidate states, without receiving the necessary financial aid, since we see the document's mission in opening the path to Europe for Ukraine," the ministry said.
Continuing the process of enlargement is a guarantee of the EU's viability and its historical prospects, it said. This is why Ukraine wants the project of the united Europe to be successful and is ready to assume the relevant obligations, provided the EU does the same with respect to Ukraine, the Foreign Ministry said.
The verdict against Tymoshenko is "a matter for the court," it said. "Under the Ukrainian laws, the convict and her lawyers have enough tools to appeal against the ruling and to protect their legal positions through the mechanism of appeal. The Ukrainian government will act within its constitutional powers to do everything it can to ensure the transparency of this process," the statement said.
The executive authorities have not and will not interfere in this process, the Foreign Ministry added. The parliament can play its role by making changes to the Penal Code and other Ukrainian laws to decriminalize the violations, of which Tymoshenko was convicted, and the relevant initiatives have been laid before Verkhovna Rada.
"The Ukrainian authorities are ready to cooperate with our foreign partners in order to reform and strengthen our court system, but they cannot violate the underlying principles of the law and assume a court's duties. Neither Ukrainian, nor foreign officials can exert any pressure on the judicial branch. Nor can the court case be used as a means of pressure in the negotiating process regarding the Association Agreement," the statement said.
