Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has met with the members of the European Parliament's monitoring mission to Ukraine, Ex-Polish President Alexander Kwasniewski and ex-European Parliament President Pat Cox.

Azarov thanked Kwasniewski and Cox for their active and unbiased monitoring of court hearings of serious criminal cases in Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian government's press service.

Both sides said that work of the EP mission contributed to strengthening mutual trust and a better understanding of Ukrainian legislation and court practice.

Azarov said that Ukraine is ready to continue cooperation with the mission after the parliamentary elections.

The premier added that democratic, free, and fair parliamentary elections in Ukraine would demonstrate the maturity of Ukrainian democracy and become an important step towards further deepening of relations between Ukraine and the EU.

The European Parliament appointed Cox and Kwasniewski as its observers in Tymoshenko court proceedings. The mission started on June 11 under an agreement of Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and European Parliament President Martin Schulz.

The mission mandate was broadened later on. The monitors also directed their attention to former Interior Minister of Ukraine Yuriy Lutsenko and ex-Acting Defense Minister Valeriy Ivaschenko and preparations for the parliamentary election in Ukraine.

On October 2, the monitoring of court proceedings with regard to ex-Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and ex-Ukrainian Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko by Ex-Polish President Alexander Kwasniewski and ex-European Parliament President Pat Cox has been suspended for the period of the Ukrainian parliamentary election campaign. The monitoring will resume when the election is over.

Ukraine will elect a new parliament on October 28.