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Ukraine ready to reply to Europe’s accusations

“We conduct an open dialogue and look honestly into the eyes of Europe,” Yanukovich emphasised

KIEV, May 20 (Itar-Tass) — Ukraine is ready to give replies to all accusations from Europe, but it is worried at their tonality, said on Sunday President Viktor Yanukovich in an interview, aired over the First National TV channel.

“Sure, we are concerned over tonality at a high pitch from European Union countries, and we are ready to give a reply to all their questions, but when it is made we reserve for ourselves,” the president said. “It’s necessary to wait a bit, to dot one’s i’s , and then everything will be possibly more understandable.”

“We conduct an open dialogue and look honestly into the eyes of Europe,” he emphasised. The head of state noted that “Ukraine has not spoiled relations with a single Euroean country in the recent past” and “time will come, and everything will be set in its place”.

“Democracy, as I understand it,” the president continued, “is political culture, I should say, an art of controlling one’s emotions, and there should not be any haste in this case. There should be self-control and patience.” The head of state is offended that Ukraine is “treated as schoolchildren”.

The relations between European countries and Ukraine have deteriorated in the past two months over the situation around ex-premier Yulia Timoshenko who now serves her sentence at the Kachanovskaya penitentiary in Kharkov.

The EU suspended ratification of an agreement on its association with Ukraine; high-ranking politicians refused to participate in a summit of Central Europe states, which was to be held in Yalta on May 11-12. As a result, Ukraine shifted it on for a later date. This was followed by calls to boycott the Euro-2012 Football Championship.

True, EU foreign ministers decided against resorting to a boycott on May 14, but advised European Union politicians to keep away from official stands during games and to refrain from participating in official meetings with Kiev authorities.

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