Ukraine: EU Accession remains a priority
Thursday 26 August 2010By EU Reporter Correspondents
On the occasion of the 19th anniversary of the Independence of Ukraine, President Viktor Yanukovych addressed the Ukrainian people. In his speech, he stressed that the European integration and accession to the EU remain a priority of Ukraine’s foreign policy and expressed hope that the Summit Ukraine-EU in the autumn this year will be a decisive step forward for this goal. He emphasised the reforms made to his country's judicial system, in order to bring it into line with EU norms, and trumpeted the freedoms of the press in Ukraine.
The latter achievement is relative, of course, with the NGO Reporters without borders identifying "noticeable problems" with journalistic freedom in the country. This does put Ukraine into a better category than Russia, of course, which in terms of press freedom is just one category above Iran and Libya.
He claimed that what he calls the "normalization" of relations with the Russian Federation will not hinder the European integration process. On the contrary, it will contribute to it. Europe needs an economically strong, democratic Ukraine that together with Russia will contribute to stability not only in Central and Eastern Europe, but on the entire "Eurasian continent", said the President.
In April this year, the new Ukrainian president scrapped a state body set up to oversee the country's eventual accession to NATO. It is not so long ago that the country was being steered towards the security alliance, although, possibly fearful of repurcussions from Moscow, public opinion turned against the idea, with Yulia Tymoshenko abandoning her support.
The EU may now be faced with a dilemma: should it risk allowing a Russian Trojan Horse into the Union?
Yanukovich is a controversial character. His criminal record spans 39 years, beginning with a conviction for robbery and assault in 1967, when he received the first of two prison sentences. Most recently, in 2006, charges were brought against him for falsification of documents. He is remembered in Brussels for the appallingly aggressive behaviour of his security team towards European Parliament staff during his visit this year shortly after his election.
Photo: "I've lived a complicated life!" Victor Yanukovych on the cover of Korrespondent. Image: Yanukovych.com.ua