The European People’s Party (EPP) fully supports the request by the European Parliament’s monitoring mission to pardon former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and demands that the Ukrainian government release her without delay, according to the Official web site of Yulia Tymoshenko.
"On behalf of EPP, I fully support the request of the European Parliament's envoys that was submitted yesterday to the Ukrainian President, to pardon ex-prime minister and leader of the opposition Yulia Tymoshenko. In the framework of this request, the EPP respectfully acknowledges Ms. Tymoshenko's agreement to go to Germany for medical treatment, which she urgently needs," said EPP Vice President Jacek Saryusz-Wolski.
He said it is now up to President Yanukovych to resolve the outstanding issue of selective justice. "The European Union, the international community, and the Ukrainian people are expecting the immediate resolution of this matter, which will influence the fate of Ukraine," he underscored.
The EPP VP noted that the fulfillment of the requirements, criteria and benchmarks, set by the European Union on 12 December 2012 for the signing of the Association Agreement with Ukraine, is within reach. "But time is now out."
Jacek Saryusz-Wolski recalled that the European Parliament will hear the Cox-Kwasniewski report on 15 October and his EP resolution on ENP-East progress reports on 23 October. "If Yulia Tymoshenko is not released by then, the requirements and preconditions for the Association Agreement will not be met and the European Union will not sign the agreement at the Eastern Partnership mummit in Vilnius."
"Can Ukraine afford to lose this opportunity and to undermine its own free European choice? I urge President Yanukovych to rise to the historical moment and to demonstrate wisdom and statesmanship for his country," Jacek Saryusz-Wolski said.
