Europe

Europe

Talks on EU-Ukraine trade pact to go ahead despite Tymoshenko trial

13 October 2011 04:33 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. The European Union is set to continue talks on an association agreement with Ukraine, despite the trial of ex-premier Yulia Tymoshenko which it sees as politically motivated, the EU top diplomat said, APA reports quoting RIA Novosti.

A Ukrainian court found former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko guilty of abuse of office. On Tuesday, she was handed a seven-year prison sentence for signing a 2009 gas deal with Russia.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said there was "no doubt that the prosecution of Yulia Tymoshenko was politically motivated," and her trial "did not respect international standards as regards fair, transparent and independent legal process."

She, however, told the European Parliament that the Association Agreement with Ukraine, which includes a pact on a free trade area, should not be taken off the table. Ashton said that Yulia Tymoshenko herself asked EU officials to continue the association agreement work, which was due to be signed by year-end.

"I believe we should not walk away from the technical negotiations, but continue them with the aim of having before us on the table, a document which makes it clear to both sides what is possible - and also what could be lost," Ashton said.

"But we can only sign such an agreement if we are convinced that the Ukrainian leadership believes in the values on which it is based, and is committed to upholding them," she added.

The EU foreign policy chief said the treaty should not be considered as a "gift to Ukraine, or a gift to the EU."

"It was envisaged as a mutually beneficial contract sharing our values and standards, opening our markets, modernizing and diversifying the Ukrainian economy and entrenching the rule of law and fundamental freedoms," she said.

"Both Ukrainian and EU citizens stand to benefit, and it offers the Ukrainian government the roadmap for transformation that the country needs," she went on.