KIEV, December 11, 3:00 /ITAR-TASS/. Yet another attempt will be made here on Wednesday to bring together "under one roof" representatives of the opposition and the authorities of Ukraine. The idea was suggested by the country's first president Leonid Kravchuk.
There was no dialogue at Kiev's Ukraine Palace on Tuesday: only representatives of the authorities arrived at the session.
Ex-president Leonid Kuchma was authorised to hold talks with the opposition leaders on the theme of their participation ina a repeat attempt at a roundtable meeting". "I believe that the oppostion will agree to a dialogue,"Kravchuk said. He pointed out that the present head of state Viktor Yanukovich "is ready to participate in a roundtable meeting which must become an event in Ukraine. Through it, problems must be settled and decisions on them should be brought to society's attention". He voiced such confidence on Tuesday after a meeting with Yanukovich, with ex-presidents Viktor Yushchenko and Kuchma participating.
However, Arseny Yatsenyuk, one of opposition leaders and head of the Batkivshchina parliamentary faction, is of the opinion that "European partners should participate without fail in talks on the political crisis in Ukraine. The holding of 'pocket' (in-camera) roundtable meetings is unacceptable".
"Within the framework of efforts to settle this political crisis, we must take an open-access decision on the formation of a technical (interim) government, the signing of an association agreement with the European Union (EU), a decision on a resumption of negotiations with and the obtaining of a credit from the International Monetary Fund, and the adoption of a number of legislative acts which would make it impossible to usurp power," Yatsenyu said.
Neither was Yushchenko against discussing with EU representatives the problems of Ukraine's Eurointegration bid which resulted in a political crisis in the country. He suggests launching a discussion with the EU on dividing an Association Agreement into two parts: political one (on Ukraine's association proper with the EU) and economic one (on a Free Trade Area). He recommended discussing this matter with EU representatives who are currently in Kiev, with Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative on Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, in particular.
The issue concerning the possiblity of dividing an Association Agreement into two parts was raised way back in 2009 and then in 2011. In 2009, such an option was suggested by the EU. However, Ukraine did not agree to it. In 2011, a proposal to this effect was made by Ukraine but it did not find support in the EU.
At present EU officials speak of an unacceptability of the option of dividing the already initialled Association Agreement into two documents.
Yanukovich said a Ukrainian delegation, led by First Vice-Premier Arbuzov, is to leave for Brussels by air on Wednesday for a continuation of talks with the EU about Eurointegration. The president, according to Kravchuk, approved a plan for signing an Association Agreement with the EU. Kravchuk said Yanukovich "considers it necessary to begin additionally to develop the Association Agereement with the EU and sign it in March 2014".
The situtation in the county and possible consequences of the political crisis for the ecnomy of Ukraine are to be discussed on Wednesday by government members at a Cabinet meeting. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov already stated that the payment o fsocial allowances was being delayed owing to the blockade of t the buildings of government institutions by protesters.
The journalists of the Ukrainian media are also busy arranging a roundtable meeting of their own on Wednesday. Outstanding physicians, prominent scientists, writers, sportsmen, art performers, members of local communities, and clergy have been invited to take part in it. "It is precisely in such a dialogue that society will get an 'Action Plan for the Ccountry', which our politicians will not be able to ignore," the roundtabe organizers maintain.