Ukrainian opposition calls for nationwide march to support European integration

Ukrainian oppositional leaders: Oleg Tyagnybok, Arseny
Yatsenyuk, Vitaly Klichko
(Image: Segodnya UA)

Ukrainian joint oppositional front which has united three major oppositional forces in Ukraine has called on Ukrainian citizens to participate in the nationwide march in order to support Ukrainian European integration path. The march is scheduled for 24 November, a few days ahead of the planned Vilnius Summit of the Easter European Partnership where Ukraine has the chance to possible sign Association Agreement with EU.

Arseny Yantenyuk, leader of the oppositional Batkivshyna (Homeland) Party, stated on Wednesday the leader of all three main oppositional parties (Arseny Yatsenyuk himself, Vitaly Klichko, leader of UDAR Party, and Oleg Tyagnybok, leader of Svoboda Party) have agreed to participate in the nationwide action and supported the call.

This march will be held under the motto “We are for Europe” referring to the aspirations of Ukrainian citizens for the European integration.

According to the statement of Mr. Yatsenyuk, this march and this massive act should be not a political act but rather the act showing the will of Ukrainian people.

It’s also worth mentioning that on Wednesday, 13 November, Ukrainian parliamentarians have met in attempt to discuss and vote for the law project regarding the possibilities of medical treatment of the prisoners abroad, the law which would enable to resolve the case of Ukrainian ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. In addition to that there have been also the plans to study and vote for the law drafts regarding the reforms of judicial system, prosecution and electoral system as well. All of those law drafts are important in the framework of the cooperation with EU and are among the conditions necessary for the signing of the Association Agreement between EU and Ukraine.

Though, Alexander Rybakm speaker of Ukrainian Parliament, has closed Wednesday’s parliamentary session without any decision being taken and any law draft being voted for explaining it as lack of information and claiming none of the above mentioned documents was ready for study and voting.

This situation makes the position of Ukraine tenser ahead of the upcoming Summit of the eastern European Partnership to be held in Vilnius on 28-29 November 2013.

The representatives of EU mission to Ukraine and international observers headed by Aleksander Kwaśniewski and Pat Cox are expected to make a report regarding the situation in Ukraine and its readiness for the possible signing of the Agreement. The report is expected to be made on 14 November. Though it became known on Wednesday that the mission of European observers was prolonged and they will remain in the country until the beginning of the Summit.