Political crisis not to stop Ukraine from integrating into Europe - Poroshenko
The parliamentary and government crisis must not impede the Ukrainian people's advancement into the European Union, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said, during his meeting with Euromaidan activists.
"The crisis must not stop the process for which such a price has been paid, and into which so much effort has been invested. It is for Ukrainians to be given the next degree of freedom, the freedom to freely travel the world. It is for the Ukrainian passport, the new, biometrical one, to be respected," Poroshenko told the activists after revealing that he had addressed the Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian parliament, calling on the deputies to pass the "non-visa bills" in a version compliant with the EU requirements, as soon as this evening.
Poroshenko explained that this new "non-visa package" of laws is necessary in terms of "establishing European rules of the fight against corruption within the country".
"I very much hope that the deputies will listen to the Ukrainian people, listen to the president, and tonight we will see the parliament making the respective decision," Poroshenko said.
It was reported earlier that the Verkhovna Rada passed one bill from the "non-visa package" on the special confiscations, and also voted on a law providing for transparency in the work of the specialized anti-corruption prosecutor's office, as was recommended by the International Monetary Fund.