Linking EU bid to Tymoshenko trial 'immoral' says Ukraine PM

Tymoshenko waves to supporters as she arrived in court last month; photo EPA archives

“Connecting serious global questions about free trade agreements and the [EU] association to a specific legal process is not only wrong, it's amoral,” Azariv said at the forum which was being attending by EU leaders, including Polish foreign minister Radek Sikorski - who was representing Poland's six-month presidency of the European Council – and former British PM Tony Blair among others.

This month, the European Parliament formally recommended that the European Council sign an improved Associate Agreement with the Kiev which would facilitate trade and foreign relations with Ukraine and bring it further towards membership of the 27-nation bloc.

Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski and other EU leaders have said, however, that Ukraine's EU aspirations are tied to the outcome of the trail and imprisonment of former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, where she is facing charges of misuse of office when signing oil agreements with Russia in 2008.

“Perceiving Ukraine as a free and democratic country is its strategic asset,” Sikorski said at the Yalta forum, echoing international concern that the trial and arrest are political motivated.

“It must not lose this asset. Obviously it would lose this asset if it treated the political opposition contrary to European values. That is why both Poland and Europe have devoted to much attention to this issue,” he added.

The forum was also attended by former president of Poland Aleksander Kwasniewski and boxing heavyweight world champion Vitalki Klitschko was has political ambitions after he retires from the ring. (pg)