EUobserver / Ashton designates six new 'strategic partners'

EUobserver / Ashton designates six new 'strategic partners'

Ashton designates six new 'strategic partners'

Ms Ashton talking with the Spanish (c) and French foreign ministers at the summit (Photo: consilium.europa.eu)

ANDREW RETTMAN

16.09.2010 @ 19:37 CET

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton has indicated that Egypt, Israel, Indonesia, Pakistan, Ukraine and South Korea could join the EU's existing list of privileged or "strategic" partners.
Ms Ashton put forward the new names in a powerpoint presentation at a meeting of EU leaders and foreign ministers in Brussels on Thursday (16 September). The roll-call of six countries ended with a "..." to indicate that the club remains open to other up-and-coming powers, an EU diplomatic source said.

Kyiv Post. Independence. Community. Trust - Ukraine - Helsinki Union demands investigation of the assault on a colleague from Kherson (VIDEO)

Kyiv Post. Independence. Community. Trust - Ukraine - Helsinki Union demands investigation of the assault on a colleague from Kherson (VIDEO)

Helsinki Union demands investigation of the assault on a colleague from Kherson (VIDEO)

15.09.2010 | Kyiv Post

Dementiy Bily, journalist and Head of the Kherson Regional Branch of the Committee of Voters of Ukraine (which is a member of UHHRU).khersonsnews.org.ua

 The Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union has today called on the Prosecutor General and the Minister of Internal Affairs to ensure a swift, independent and efficient investigation of this assault Dementiy Bily, journalist and Head of the Kherson Regional Branch of the Committee of Voters of Ukraine (which is a member of UHHRU).

Sept. 14, the City Mayor Volodomyr Saldo, who is standing for re-election for the third time from the Party of the Regions, was giving his report in the Kherson Theatre. There had been no announcement of the event either in the media or on the City Council’s website. There were rumours that invitations were being issued to those specially chosen, and leaders of civic organizations were not among them.

There were two burly guys at the doors allowing in only those who had invitations. Dementiy Bily first endeavoured to enter simply as a citizen and voter, then as journalist from the publication “Politichna Khersonshchyna” [about events etc in the Kherson region], for which he had the relevant journalist ID. Neither he nor other civic leaders were allowed in, with Saldo’s Deputy overseeing this process. It was only when the Deputy Head of the Regional Administration intervened that they were able to enter.

Ukraine, EU seek closer ties

Ukraine, EU seek closer ties

2010-09-14 00:15:59
BRUSSELS, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Ukranian President Viktor Yanukovych paid a visit to the European Union on Monday, seeking ways to strengthen relations between the two sides in view of the upcoming Ukraine-EU summit, which is scheduled for November this year.

"We would like to have a free trade area agreement that would suggest the gradual integration of the Ukrainian economy into the European Union," Yanukovych said at a joint news conference with European Council President Herman Van Rompuy.


In relation with the introduction of a visa-free regime, Yanukovych said that the works on the action plan have already started and that the process should be completed by the time of the next Ukraine-EU summit. "And we have a join vision of the process."

EUobserver / Ukraine leader gives Barroso a football

EUobserver / Ukraine leader gives Barroso a football

Ukraine leader gives Barroso a football

ANDREW RETTMAN

13.09.2010 @ 18:48 CET

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych gave EU commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso a football while visiting Brussels on Monday (13 September). But the EU-Ukraine feel-good factor is being undermined by accusations of creeping authoritarianism in the former Soviet country.

Mr Yanukovych handed over the white, black and yellow Euro 2012 ball at a press conference in the EU commission headquarters following lunch with Mr Barroso and an earlier meeting with EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy.

"This is a reminder that this is a joint project with the European Commission," he said, referring to the Euro 2012 finals, which are due to be played in Poland and Ukraine. A smiling Mr Barroso said: "Football and sport, when they are played with fair play, can give a great contribution for communication among people."
The diplomatic gift is highly symbolic: Mr Yanukovych needs to ensure economic and political stability in Ukraine, in line with EU demands, if he is to build the roads and stadiums needed to host the football championship in time. Ukraine also hopes by 2012 to clinch a trade pact and a political "association" treaty with the EU so that it can use the positive atmosphere around the football event to file an EU membership application.