Yushchenko Affirms EU Aspirations
January 25, 2005
Yushchenko stressed that his country's principal aim was to join the European Union, brushing aside an EU warning that no membership offer was on the table.
"Our strategic aim, our vision is membership in the European Union," Yushchenko told the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe, a 46-nation grouping that includes the EU's 25 members.
His reaffirmation, made in a 15-minute speech to the assembly just two days after his inauguration as head of state, took little heed of statements by EU officials who tried to dampen hopes of membership.
EU holds firm over accession plans
The European Union's external relations commissioner, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, rejected proposals that Ukraine be offered an association accord seen as a precondition to eventual accession.
"The EU is not disposed to do that for now," she said, but added that more minor cooperation agreements would be put forward next week.
Yushchenko swept to power in Dec. 26 elections in which he defeated Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych -- a politician designated by retiring pro-Moscow president Leonid Kuchma to maintain Ukraine's close ties to Russia -- by proclaiming a pro-West vision for the future of his country.
Ukraine's chances improving, says Yushchenko
"I became president thanks to the will of the Ukrainian people, who want to see their country become rich and democratic," he said, adding that impending agreements to improve trade, investment and visa restrictions between Ukraine and the European Union "raised the perspective of Ukrainian membership."
He also said his government would make reforms to install a free market economy and seek to join the World Trade Organization "by the end of 2005" in an effort to set Ukraine permanently on the path to Western-style democracy.
"Our general strategy is the integration into European structures," he said in response to questions from Council of Europe parliamentarians.
European market a huge incentive
That path, in the medium term, would not exclude historic links with Russia, he said, but would rather seek to tap into the "six times bigger" EU market on his country's western border.
"It would be a mistake to not use the Russian market," but it would also "be a mistake if Ukraine didn't find a key to open the door" to the EU market, he said.
In terms of Ukraine's bid for EU membership, "we are not simply knocking on the door saying 'let us in,'" Yushchenko said, explaining that his government would work diligently towards meeting EU standards.