Khoroshkovsky: Democratic elections in Ukraine to open road to EU
Parliamentary elections that are held in accordance with common European principles will open the road for Ukraine to association with the EU, visa-free travel and - in future - full membership of the EU.
Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister Valeriy Khoroshkovsky announced this at a meeting with reporters in Berlin on Monday during his one-day visit to Germany.
"If the elections are recognized complying with common European principles, then, I'm sure, it will open the road for all future issues of development, including association with the EU, visa-free travel and - in future - full membership of the EU," he said.
The first deputy prime minister said after a meeting with German politicians and experts that "very much is expected" in Europe from the parliamentary elections in Ukraine on October 28. "An assessment of these elections will mean our opportunities to advance in European prospects," he said.
Khoroshkovsky said that Ukraine had invited all organizations to observe the election of people's deputies. He said that Kyiv would also "welcome any exit polls," including those that are credible in Europe. "It's necessary to ensure that nobody has any subjective approaches in terms of the assessments of the Ukrainian elections," he added.
The Ukrainian politician said that Kyiv was supporting freedom of expression during the election process. He noted that 90% of all Ukrainian television companies producing news had agreed to monitor their news. "This gives confidence that the authorities and the opposition will have free access to the media," he said.
