Ukraine Leaders Take Feud To EU

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- Ukraine’s two feuding leaders took their power struggle to the heart of the European Union on Tuesday amid signs that the country’s political crisis could drag on and hamper efforts to move closer to the bloc.

Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko (L) and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso shake hands as they pose for a picture during their meeting in Brussels, April 17, 2007.
Viktor Yushchenko, the pro-western president, used a visit to Brussels to promise that the constitutional stand-off over early elections would be resolved by democratic means. He said there had not been “a single discussion” about using military force.

Viktor Yanukovich, the Moscow-leaning prime minister, used a speech in Strasbourg to promise he would respect Ukraine’s constitutional court, which on Tuesday started hearings that will lead to a legal ruling on the impasse.

Mr Yushchenko said his recent decision to dissolve parliament and call elections on May 27 was the only way to bring stability. He claimed Mr Yanukovich had used “non-constitutional mechanisms” in assembling a coalition by recruiting individual MPs instead of building it through uniting a series of factions in the parliament.

Ukraine’s worst political crisis since the Orange Revolution of 2004 has worried supporters in Brussels of the country’s democratic evolution. José Manuel Barroso, the European Commission president, said: “I believe there is a serious political crisis – let’s face the facts.” Highlighting his fears that the situation might degenerate, he pleaded with both sides to stay within the rules of democracy and law.

He warned that if the crisis continued there would inevitably be delays in talks between Brussels and Kiev over closer ties through a new co-operation agreement. “If there is political instability, of course there are delays,” he said.

Mr Barroso wants to bring Ukraine closer to the EU, but the country has never been offered the prospect of EU membership.

Meanwhile, Mr Yanukovich, on a visit to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, said: “I and my colleagues in the ruling coalition will abide by any ruling of the constitutional court over whether to dissolve parliament. This represents a democratic and civilised way out of the impasse.”

Mr Yanukovich’s governing coalition snubbed election funding, making it unlikely a vote would be held on schedule.

Tuesday’s constitutional court hearings were overshadowed by a corruption investigation launched by Ukraine’s state security agency against Suzana Stanik, one of the 18 constitutional court judges.

Valentyn Nalyvaychenko, the agency’s acting chief, said the probe was into one of Mrs Stanik’s relatives, who last year acquired real estate and luxury cars worth some $12m (€8.8m, £5.9m).

Mrs Stanik dismissed the allegations. Mr Yanukovich accused the security agency of putting pressure on the court. The investigation could delay the court’s efforts to resolve the crisis.

Source: Financial Times