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The creation of a free trade area between Ukraine and the EU will be beneficial for both partners

The deputy minister also pledged that Ukraine is ready to closely cooperate with the countries of the Customs Union

KIEV, September 3 (Itar-Tass) - The creation of a free trade area between Ukraine and the EU will be beneficial for both the Western and Eastern partners, Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Viktor Maiko expressed this view, speaking to first-year students of the Kiev Institute of International Relations.

“When the emotions and discussions subside, it will becomes clear that the participation of our state (Ukraine) in two free trade zones at the same time will be beneficial for all: both for Ukraine and our partners, both in the West and the East,” said Maiko. He also noted that the signing of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and EU does not mean that the country would be less interested in economic cooperation with Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries.

The deputy minister also pledged that Ukraine is ready to closely cooperate with the countries of the Customs Union in order to avoid the partners’ concerns over the possibility of getting of products from third countries to their markets. “We are willing to negotiate on this issue, cooperation between the customs services is needed for this. We are fully prepared for this interaction,” Maiko noted.

The deputy minister also said that to date, the chances of signing the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union during the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius in November are better than ever.

“Just a year ago, both Ukraine and Europe had been rather pessimistic about the signing of the Association Agreement. But today, the chances of concluding the agreement are better than ever. Everybody recognises this,” said Maiko. According to him, this has happened because “reforms are being implemented in Ukraine and the country’s legislation is being changed at a revolutionary pace.”

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