Participants of today’s European People’s Party (EPP) Summit in Brussels, Belgium, have once again expressed their support for illegally imprisoned former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, according to Official web site of Yulia Tymoshenko. "Like last time, there was a portrait of Yulia Tymoshenko on the table, to show that a place is being held for her and that she hasn’t been forgotten," said Batkivshchyna Deputy Head Hryhoriy Nemyria, who was appointed by Yulia Tymoshenko to represent their party at the EPP summit.
Hryhoriy Nemyria added that during his meetings with summit participants, in particular European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, it was noted that Yulia Tymoshenko is considered a European politician. "Everyone asked that I convey their words of support," he said.
According to him, the agenda included issues beyond preparation for the session of the European Council and Euro zone summit. "Time was set side to discuss the situation in countries such as Croatia and Romania. The most time was devoted to discussing the situation in Ukraine. I gave a report and it was discussed," he said.
"The situation in Ukraine was discussed from the point of view of the upcoming parliamentary elections and the lack of positive changes regarding the release of political prisoners, in particular opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko. All the speakers underlined that the release and participation of opposition leaders in the elections is one of the key criteria for the assessment of the parliamentary elections. There was also discussion of other ways to influence the regime in addition to the diplomatic tools already being applied, in the context of restrictive measures and sanctions, starting with the most odious representatives of the regime," Hryhoriy Nemyria said.
MEP Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, Vice President of the European People’s Party, told a reporter from UNIAN that during the summit, high-ranking members of the party discussed criteria for the recognition of democratic and legitimate parliamentary elections in Ukraine.
According to him, many speakers stressed that in order for the Ukrainian elections to be deemed democratic, it is important not only that they be held, but that representatives of the opposition be released. "That was the tone of the discussion," he said.
The EPP vice president also said that EPP President Wilfried Martens reiterated his support for former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko on behalf of the party.
