I read with interest the recent opinion article by five E.U. foreign ministers (“Ukraine’s slide,” Views, March 5). I respect their opinion. Yet for me it is not perception that matters but facts. I would therefore like to offer five important ones here, Foreign Minister of Ukraine Gryshchenko wrote in his article for New York times.
1. Ukraine
is committed to European values. We are not sliding but striding toward full
integration into the European Union. Last year, we successfully completed
negotiations with the E.U. on the association agreement, creating a deep and
comprehensive free-trade area. This agreement serves the best interests of both
parties — Ukraine
and the E.U.
2. I value recognition of the ambitious reform agenda underway in Ukraine. These
reforms were long overdue. Previous governments did not dare to address the
painful issues of development.
3. The current government has achieved 5 percent G.D.P. growth at a time of
global financial crisis. This came even as we paid last year a draconian price
for Russian natural gas, the price we are obliged to pay as a result of 2009
Tymoshenko gas deals with Russia.
It is ridiculous but today this deal makes it cheaper to import Russian gas
from Germany than from Russia itself.
4. My colleagues refer to trials of former Ukrainian officials on corruption
charges. Those cases are very similar to indictments of former officials across
Europe (trials in Croatia or
Iceland
are examples). The principle is the same: Whatever the court’s decision is, it
is to be respected — domestically and internationally. The way to challenge it
is to go to a higher court of law.
5. Elections. In 2010, President Yanukovich came to power after beating
Tymoshenko fair and square. Presidential elections were universally recognized
as meeting international standards. It was Tymoshenko alone who did not
recognize the election result.
Today, Ukraine
is approaching parliamentary elections. The president has stated publicly his
commitment to hold them freely and fairly, in accordance with our new election
law, based on European standards and endorsed by both coalition and opposition
parties. Meanwhile, Ukraine
has sent early invitations to international observers to monitor the election
process.
Kostyantyn
Gryshchenko, Kiev
Foreign minister of Ukraine
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