German Vice Chancellor Voices Support for Euro integration of Ukraine

Kyiv, March 3, 2011. During the official visit to Ukraine, German Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said that German government supports European-integration aspirations of Ukraine.

At the same time Westerwelle underlined the democratic nature of the EU: "The EU is not primarily an economic union, but a union of democratic values. There is only one way into the EU – via the bridge of democracy," as cited at the official Web site of Batkivshchyna Party.

During the official meeting with Batkivshchyna Party leader Yulia Tymoshenko, German politician discussed the political situation in Ukraine underlining that existence of opposition is a distinctive feature of a democratic country. “Every country has a government, but only democratic countries have an effective opposition," said Westerwelle.

Yulia Tymoshenko said that her political party will make every effort to ensure European integration of Ukraine and expressed gratitude to Westerwelle for supporting Ukraine’s European aspirations, especially in the dialogue on signing the Association Agreement.