President: Ukraine to become “Eurasian backing” for EU

Signing of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, including deep and comprehensive Free Trade Area should become not the completion of a particular phase of cooperation, but the beginning of a broader and deeper integration. This was stated by President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych at the regional council of the World Economic Forum in Kyiv, the President’s press service of informs.

"Bringing Ukraine to the "orbit" of the United Europe is the acquisition of the new quality of European enlargement. In fact, it is not the expansion of the borders of the European Union to the East, but the acquisition of the "Eurasian backing" for the European Union. Ukraine could play the role of "bridge" between the European Union and the Eurasian Union, ensuring the gradual creation of a common European economic space," Yanukovych said.

In a broader sense, in the opinion of the President, Ukraine could play the role of "inter-civilizations portal" for the Atlantic (U.S. and EU) and Eurasia (mainly Russia and China)," he said.

According to the President, the implementation of such a mission is possible, provided creation of partnership relations with the EU and the EEC, followed by the harmonization of the conditions of economic activity in both the integration associations.

"In order to develop partnership and mutually beneficial relations with the CIS countries after the signing of the Association Agreement with the EU, Ukraine should work out the updated approaches to trade and economic cooperation within the CIS on the principles of sovereign partnership, equality and mutual benefit," Yanukovych said.