Ukrainian president can still save association agreement with EU, says Lithuanian foreign minister

Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych can still save the agreement with the European Union (EU), if he takes the lead in the settlement of the issue of jailed former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, Lithuania's Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius said on Wednesday.

"I believe Yanukovych can still salvage the agreement, if he takes the lead and responsibility," the Lithuanian minister told BNS News Agency shortly after the Ukrainian parliament ended its session without considering the bills necessary for signing the association agreement with EU.

According to BNS, the Ukrainian parliament's decision refueled doubts whether the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius later this month will result in the signing of the EU-Ukraine agreement on association and free trade area.

Nevertheless, Linkevicius said that something could still be done: "If you're asking whether we can state today for sure that the signing will not take place, I would not put it this way."

"The failure to adopt he law means that the results we had been expecting haven't been achieved. Until there are results, it is very hard to hope for success. If Ukraine is determined to seek signing of the Association Agreement, it must show results," the foreign minister said.

"Many things are in the hands of President Yanukovych, his role is central, and I hope that he also appreciates the responsibility. By taking the lead and responsibility for the country's future, he has the potential to make the necessary decisions," Linkevicius said.

As reported, the Verkhovna Rada closed its extraordinary meeting on Wednesday without having considered the bills that Ukraine needs to adopt to sign the association agreement with the EU. Parliamentary Speaker Volodymyr Rybak said that the bills on the public prosecutor's office, on parliamentary elections and on medical treatment of prisoners abroad had not been properly prepared for consideration.