Ukraine is determined to sign an association agreement with the European Union as soon as possible, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has said.
“Ukraine sees this agreement primarily as a comprehensive program of internal
transformations in all areas of political, economic and social life of the
state, as well as an efficient tool to improve national legislation,” the head
of state said at a meeting with heads of diplomatic missions of foreign states
and international organizations accredited in Ukraine, the president’s press
service reported.
Yanukovych stressed that Ukraine was ready for large-scale and hard work in
order to ensure efficient implementation of the agreement. “This path enjoys
full support of representatives of most of the political forces of our state and
the society,” the president said.
He noted that at present they were one step away from the signing of the
Association Agreement. “I am confident that given the political will on both
sides we can make it as quickly as possible,” Yanukovych said.
The president also told the diplomats that Ukraine will continue to work on
economic aspects of its foreign policy.
“The Ukrainian diplomacy, the Ukrainian foreign policy will always be present
where there is a national interest. At present, the national interest is
primarily economic interest. And so the line towards the economization of
Ukraine’s foreign policy will continue,” the head of state assured.
Speaking about Ukraine’s cooperation with other countries, the president
noted that at this stage they were successfully developing cooperation with
Russia in all areas.
In 2012, Ukraine also continued its strategic partnership relations with the
U.S. “We continued active mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of
non-proliferation, economic and education areas, at the level of civil society,”
he said.
