You're reading: Regions Party asks Ashton to convince opposition to join Constitutional Assembly

Leaders of the Regions Party faction in the parliament have called on High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission Catherine Ashton to convince the Ukrainian opposition to work in the Constitutional Assembly.

The leader of the Regions Party faction, Oleksandr Yefremov, and Deputy Head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee for Foreign Affairs Leonid Kozhara wrote this in a letter to Ashton.

The letter said that on Jan. 26 Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych signed a decree on the formation of the Constitutional Assembly of Ukraine.

The authors of the letter said that "the Regions Party welcomes this initiative, which grants the possibility to implement all of the requirements of a new constitution on the basis of a national consensus and an agreement between various political forces of the country."

"In connection with this, we are very disappointed by the refusal of the united opposition to participate in the work of the assembly. We would like to ask you to persuade the opposition parties that work in the assembly is extremely important to bring Ukraine closer to the European Union and fulfill its main obligations in this direction," reads the letter.

In addition, Yefremov and Kozhara said that they are ready to discuss with Ashton "all issues connected with the project."

"We hope that the EU institutions would convince political forces in our country that participation in such an important project is necessary," reads the letter.

As reported, the Dictatorship Resistance Committee has refused to work in the Constitutional Assembly created by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.