Ukraine suspends plan to seek EU membership

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Ukraine suspends plan to seek EU membership

(Xinhua) 08:10, November 22, 2013

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KIEV, Nov. 21 -- The Ukrainian government decided Thursday to suspend preparations for striking historic political and trade agreements with the European Union (EU) due for signature next week.

Ukraine halted the process in the interests of "national security" and would fully analyze the impact of the deals on Ukraine's economic relations with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) members and Russia, the government said in a decree.

Kiev would "renew active dialogue" with Russia, other members of the Moscow-led Customs Union and the CIS countries, the decree added.

"Ukraine suspended the process until when we find a way to stop the decline in industrial production due to a fall in exports to the Commonwealth of Independent States," Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Boyko told a press briefing after a cabinet meeting.

The government move came on the heels of the parliament's rejection of a series of bills that would have satisfied the EU by allowing former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko out of prison to travel to Germany for medical treatment.

Tymoshenko's imprisonment, viewed by some countries as " selective justice," has become a key stumbling block in Ukraine's bid to integrate with the EU.

The 28-member bloc has been calling for Tymoshenko's release as a condition for signing an association agreement and a free trade pact with Kiev at a EU summit slated for Nov. 28-29 in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, which irked President Viktor Yanukovych who narrowly defeated her in the 2010 presidential election.

However, Yanukovych, who was currently on a visit to Austria, said that Ukraine will "further work towards European integration, " without giving any details.

Kiev proposed the establishment of a special tripartite committee to assess the impact of the planned free trade accord with the 28-member bloc on its economy and settle trade issues between Ukraine, Russia and the EU.

"The Russian side during the consultations of the committee will not apply any sanctions or trade restrictions on Ukraine," Kiev's representative to the Eurasian Economic Commission, Viktor Suslov, told reporters.

Ukraine's intention to sign the long-negotiated agreements resulted in the deterioration of relations between Kiev and its Eastern partners in recent months. Russia has threatened to impose trade restrictions if Ukraine signs the EU deal.

（Editor：LiangJun、Yao Chun）