Ukraine still has many issues of the harmonization of national legislation with the European standards unresolved, President Viktor Yanukovych said at a joint press conference with the President of Slovenia today, answering questions about possible negative reaction of the European community to the court decision in the case of Yulia Tymoshenko, according to the Press office of President Viktor Yanukovych.

The President named the reform of criminal justice and adoption of a new Criminal Procedure Code to replace the current one from 1962 among the pressing problems.

He expressed confidence that the new draft Criminal Procedure Code will be considered and approved by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. "I am convinced that once we fulfill this difficult job Ukraine will get modern European standards in justice, procedures, and human freedoms," Viktor Yanukovych stressed.

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The current court decision on Yulia Tymoshenko’s case was taken with the outdated Criminal Procedure Code in force. "Given that it is still in force, law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, and the courts are obliged to follow it," President Yanukovych said.

"But this is not a final decision. There is still the Court of Appeal. And, of course, how will it make a decision and under which legislation will be very important," he said.

He reminded that the criminal case was launched at the instruction of the NSDC in February 2009. "It was investigated by law enforcement agencies and ended up in court logically," Viktor Yanukovych said.

"I would like to say that it is a certainly regrettable incident, which now hampers Ukraine`s European integration. It arouses concerns in the European Union, and I would like to say that we understand why it is so," Viktor Yanukovych stressed.