European politicians insist on settlement of Tymoshenko issue, says Yatseniuk

Europe is ready to sign the Association Agreement with Ukraine under three conditions, including the settlement of the situation with jailed former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, which is a very important condition.

Ukraine's European partners said this to the leader of the Batkivschyna parliamentary faction, Arseniy Yatseniuk, during his working visit to Brussels.

Yatseniuk visited Brussels on April 23-24 at the invitation of Vice President of the European Parliament Jacek Protasiewicz.

The Ukrainian politician met with Protasiewicz, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule, European Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht, President of the European People's Party Wilfried Martens, President of the Greens Group in the European Parliament Rebecca Harms, and MEP Inese Vaidere.

"Europe is ready. We still have time to show progress in the fulfillment of the conditions necessary for the signing of the Association Agreement. One of the issues is to give clear answer on the Tymoshenko case. They [the EU] appreciate the step to release [former Interior Minister of Ukraine Yuriy] Lutsenko and are expecting further steps to release Tymoshenko," he said.

According to Yatseniuk, the European politicians are also waiting for the Ukrainian authorities' answers on the results of the parliamentary elections in five constituencies where conflicts occurred, on the law on referendum, on the election of Kyiv mayor, the Election Code, public prosecution reform, reforms of justice and Supreme Council of Justice, as well as on the anti-discrimination legislation.

"The process [of solving the problems] should have been started the day before yesterday. We won't manage to carry out everything before the summit in Vilnius, but we have to take first steps right now. We have a historic chance in Vilnius to make Ukraine a part of the EU, and we will take it," Yatseniuk said.