The European Union signed free-trade and political cooperation agreements with Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova on Friday as the three former soviet republics took a historic step away from Russian influence and closer to a future in Europe.
The accord falls short of full EU membership but offers deep economic integration and tariff-free access to the EU’s 500 million consumers.
"This is a great day for Europe... the European Union stands by your side today more than ever before," European Council head Herman Van Rompuy said at the ceremony with Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko and Prime Ministers Irakli Garibashvili of Georgia and Iurie Leanca of Moldova.
Ukraine’s signing of the accord is of particular significance, given the country’s current battle with pro-Russian separatists and Moscow’s recent annexing of Crimea.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP, REUTERS)
[www.france24.com]
27/6/14
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The accord falls short of full EU membership but offers deep economic integration and tariff-free access to the EU’s 500 million consumers.
"This is a great day for Europe... the European Union stands by your side today more than ever before," European Council head Herman Van Rompuy said at the ceremony with Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko and Prime Ministers Irakli Garibashvili of Georgia and Iurie Leanca of Moldova.
Ukraine’s signing of the accord is of particular significance, given the country’s current battle with pro-Russian separatists and Moscow’s recent annexing of Crimea.
- The crisis was sparked by the ousting of former president Viktor Yanukovich following months of protests after he backed out of signing an association agreement with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia.
- "Over the last months, Ukraine paid the highest possible price to make her European dreams come true," Poroshenko told EU leaders at the signing ceremony in Brussels.
- Russia deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov immediately warned that "grave consequences" would follow, the Interfax news agency said.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP, REUTERS)
[www.france24.com]
27/6/14
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Related:
EU-Assoziierungsabkommen.....Russland droht Ukraine mit "ernsthaften Konsequenzen"....
ReplyDeleteDie Tinte unter dem Assoziierungsabkommen zwischen EU und Ukraine ist noch nicht trocken, da kommt die Drohung aus Russland: Die Ukraine werde die Folgen spüren.
Kurz nachdem der ukrainische Präsident Petro Poroschenko das Assoziierungsabkommen mit der EU unterschrieben hat, hat die Regierung in Moskau "ernste Konsequenzen" angekündigt. Die Folgen der Unterzeichnung für die Ukraine und Moldau würden "sicherlich ernst sein", sagte Russlands Vizeaußenminister Grigori Karasin. Man müsse sehen, wie man "Missverständnisse und Misstrauen" vermeiden könne. Gleichwohl räumte er ein, dass die Entscheidung über solch ernste Verträge das Recht eines jeden souveränen Staates seien.
Russlands Präsident Wladimir Putin sagte, die Auseinandersetzungen um die politische Zukunft der Ukraine hätten zu einer tiefen Spaltung des Landes geführt. "Der verfassungswidrige Putsch in Kiew und die Versuche, die Ukrainer vor eine künstliche Wahl zwischen Europa und Russland zu stellen, haben zu einer Spaltung der Gesellschaft und einer schmerzvollen internen Konfrontation geführt". Weiter forderte Putin eine Verlängerung der Waffenruhe im Osten der Ukraine. "Es ist entscheidend, dass die Ukraine auf den Weg des Friedens, des Dialogs und der Versöhnung zurückfindet", sagte Putin...................http://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2014-06/eu-gipfel-assoziierungsabkommen-ukraine-drohung-russland-moldau-georgien
Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Friday for a long-term ceasefire in Ukraine to allow talks between representatives of Kiev and eastern regions where rebels are waging an armed insurgency.
ReplyDeletePutin also said during a diplomatic ceremony in the Kremlin that violence has forced tens of thousands of Ukrainians to seek refuge, including in Russia.