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Ukrainian govt to do its utmost for signing association agreement with EU 2013 - Azarov

Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich earlier said that “every condition is in place” for Ukraine and the EU to sign an association agreement

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

KIEV, January 12 (Itar-Tass) – The Ukrainian government will do its utmost for signing an association agreement with the European Union this year, Prime Minster Nikolai Azarov said in reply to a question from a user of the social network Facebook.

Azarov said he held a conference with government ministers and deputy prime ministers on Friday to review implementation of the action plan for relations with the EU.

“This year’s program is very intensive. It will require concerted action by many ministries and agencies. We are determined to do our utmost for signing the agreement this year,” Azarov said.

Ukraine’s further cooperation within the World Trade Organization was among the issues discussed.

“We outlined several compromise options we shall be discussing with our European partners,” Azarov said.

Earlier, he asked Cabinet members to step up European integration efforts with a view to concluding an association agreement with the EU. Azarov will hold an enlarged meeting of the Cabinet in February “for discussing topical issues of cooperation between Ukraine and the EU and the implementation of the state policy in the sphere of European integration.”

“The 16th Ukraine-EU summit due in Brussels on February 25 will be an important event,” he said.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich earlier said that “every condition is in place” for Ukraine and the EU to sign an association agreement.

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