Brussels, 21 June 2007

Javier SOLANA, European Union High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), had a meeting today with Viktor YUSHCHENKO, President of Ukraine.

At the meeting, Mr Solana and President Yuschchenko discussed relations between the European Union and Ukraine and the latest developments in Ukraine. After the meeting, Mr Solana told journalists at a joint press briefing that the meeting had been very good. He said they had focused in particular on Ukraine's domestic situation and on the challenges ahead, particularly following the early parliamentary elections to be held on 30 September.

Mr Solana said that Ukraine now had the possibility to move forward by implementing the political agreement: "Ukraine has been through a political crisis in recent months. I hope it is now resolved. There will be elections in September and I hope this will open the door to the normalisation of relations in the future". In their meeting, Mr Solana and President Yushchenko spoke at length about the need to ensure clarity in the constitutional system, create functioning checks and balances, and strengthen the rule of law and the functioning of the judiciary. They agreed on the need to engage all political forces in this crucial task in order to create the basis for implementing key reforms.

Mr Solana also drew the attention of the press to Ukraine's positive economic development, despite the political crisis it had gone through in recent months. "Let me underline that even though Ukraine has had these difficulties, the economy has continued to do very well. Its movement towards WTO membership is a very important achievement for Ukraine."

Mr Solana said the EU's relationship with Ukraine and his relationship with President Yushchenko were very profound and the EU wished the President and the other key Ukrainian leaders success in their important tasks ahead. Asked by the press if he was concerned that the political agreement reached in Ukraine might not be adhered to, Mr Solana stressed that he had every confidence that the political process that had been agreed would be followed: "I have had a very good meeting with President Yushchenko today and I met the Prime Minister last Monday so I have very good information. I hope and I am certain that the process that has been agreed will continue." Ukraine has invited international election observers to monitor the elections on 30 September and Mr Solana underlined the importance of this in his meeting with President Yushchenko.