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Ukraine to work on EU association deal “under a very tight schedule”

Ukraine's PM: by February we need to have a picture of development of cooperation with the EU and coordination with Russia

© ITAR-TASS/Maxim Nikitin

KIEV, January 9 (Itar-Tass) - Ukraine would start association and free trade zone talks with the EU as soon as the opportunity offers itself, Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov said Thursday.

“In relations with our European partners we shall speak the language of facts and figures. We cannot ignore the risks,” he told the Cabinet.

According to the prime minister, the task is to sign the agreement within very tight deadlines.

“This is the business of each member of the government,” Azarov said. “By February we need to have a picture of development of cooperation with the EU and coordination with Russia.”

2014 will be better for Ukraine than last year, Azarov believes. He said the country has everything to make 2014 a year of “stability and development,” if there is consolidation in the society. He added 2014 would certainly see a stable Ukrainian currency, the hryvnia, and wage rises.

Azarov cited the December deal with Russia as one of the factors contributing to the Ukrainian economic development, saying “late last year the two presidents’ agreements helped resolve fundamental problems of renewed bilateral trade and cooperation issues”.

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