Interfax-Ukraine
11:35 20.02.2013

Polish, Slovak presidents to tell Yanukovych what EU expects from Ukraine - media

2 min read

During a meeting in the town of Wisla (Poland), Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski and Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic will tell Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych what steps the EU expects from Kyiv.

"We'll talk urging our Ukrainian guest to make a number of gestures that would confirm his desire to bring Ukraine closer to the Western world and increase the chances of signing the Association Agreement at the EU-Ukraine summit, which will be held in Vilnius in November this year," Komorowski said in a conversation with the Polish Radio, Radio Liberty reported on Wednesday.

The Polish president explained what it is that his Ukrainian counterpart has to do so that the EU would agree to sign the association agreement.

"I will be trying to persuade Yanukovych, as I was trying a year ago, when I received certain promises, to make a gesture, which can affect many people in the Western world. I mean to solve complicated problems, or at least partial resolve the situation with political rivals, who are currently in prison. I am talking, for instance, about Mr. Lutsenko, the former interior minister," Komorowski said.

According to the Polish president, two years ago, few people believed in the successful negotiation of the EU and Ukraine about the conditions of association. Therefore, the EU needs to talk with Yanukovych, including in order to support pro-European forces in Ukraine.

As reported, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych will make a working visit to Wisla (Poland) on February 20-21 at the invitation of Komorowski.

The sides will hold summit talks during the visit. In addition, Yanukovych will hold a trilateral meeting with Komorowski and Gasparovic.

"Special attention will be paid to Ukraine's European integration, primarily to the preparations for the EU-Ukraine Summit and the signing of the Association Agreement with the EU," the Ukrainian president's press service said.

The agenda of the visit also includes discussion of the intensification of cooperation between Central and Eastern Europe, particularly Ukraine's involvement in joint activities of the Visegrad Four.

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