GERMANY: Merkel and Yanukovich discuss Ukraine's possibilities for EU membership

The European Union will begin talks with Ukraine next week on a wide-ranging cooperation pact despite the political turmoil that has engulfed the former Soviet republic, EU president Germany said on Wednesday (February 28). The Ukrainian prime minister, Viktor Yanukovich, is on a visit to Berlin, where he met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday. At a news conference following the meeting, Merkel was asked if the EU had conditioned the beginning of talks with Kiev on the country's ability to ensure it has a functioning government. "I made clear that the European Union is currently undergoing a process whereby it first needs to assess enlargement possibilities. The fact that we are in negotiations with Ukraine means a new quality and it makes clear that Ukraine has a special position in regard to the European Union. I think it's politically wise to accept the present situation. We know the wishes (of Ukraine). I outlined the situation and now we'll work down the list," Merkel said. Merkel is presiding over Germany's EU presidency, which runs until the end of June. The new cooperation agreement with the EU is expected to expand existing relations, especially on issues like trade and energy ties. Yanukovich, Ukraine's parliament and President Viktor Yushchenko are locked in a political battle which has complicated the president's drive to bring Ukraine closer to the West, the goal of Yushchenko's "Orange Revolution" in 2004. Yanukovich said he and Merkel had agreed that the EU and Ukraine should have a free-trade agreement. He also reiterated Kiev's desire to join the 27-nation bloc some day. "What's important is that we heard and felt signals that the door to the European Union remains open. We hope that will be noted in the new agreement but we understand there are processes within the EU which need to be taken into account," said Yanukovich. The existing EU-Ukraine partnership agreement runs to 2008. Merkel expressed clear support for Kiev's desire to join the World Trade Organization but was much more cautious when discussing Ukrainian EU aspirations.

ITN Source | March 1, 2007

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