UWC calls upon the EU to recommend a solution

12 September 2013
MEDIA RELEASE
UWC calls upon the EU to recommend a solution
on how to satisfy the EU requirement regarding Yulia Tymoshenko 
  On 12 September 2013, Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) President Eugene Czolij sent a letter to European Union (EU) leaders, including the Cox-Kwasniewski Mission, requesting that they recommend a solution on how to satisfy the EU requirement regarding Opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko.

In this letter, Eugene Czolij referred to his meeting on 27 August 2013 with the President of Ukraine, during which Viktor Yanukovych stated that the political will is there to fulfill the EU requirement regarding the case of Yulia Tymoshenko. However, according to Viktor Yanukovych, Ukraine’s legislation does not provide for any mechanism to accomplish this.

Eugene Czolij expressed the opinion that Viktor Yanukovych could use his presidential powers to resolve this issue, to which the President of Ukraine answered that those powers are not broad enough.

Notwithstanding this difference of opinion concerning the availability of mechanisms to resolve this important matter, the UWC President called upon the EU leaders to recommend without delay a solution that is available under Ukrainian legislation regarding Yulia Tymoshenko, so that the strategically important EU‑Ukraine Association Agreement can be signed during the Third Summit of the Eastern Partnership member countries in Vilnius on 28-29 November 2013.
 
The UWC is the international coordinating body for Ukrainian communities in the diaspora representing the interests of over 20 million Ukrainians. The UWC has member organizations in 33 countries and ties with Ukrainians in 14 additional countries. Founded in 1967 as a non-profit corporation, the UWC was recognized in 2003 by the United Nations Economic and Social Council as a non-governmental organization (NGO) with special consultative status.