Opmerkingen Hoge Vertegenwoordiger Ashton over het Oostelijk partnerschap na ontmoeting met Visegrad-landen (en)

Remarks by the High Representative Catherine Ashton at the end of the Ministerial Meeting of Visegrad countries, Eastern Partnership countries and the EU, Prague 05/03/2012

Minister, can I first of all thank you for your hospitality today at this important occasion. Sometimes in the European Union people think that because of the events that take place in our Southern Neighbourhood, that somehow the Eastern Neighbourhood and the Eastern Partnership are less important. Nothing could be further from the truth. We believe absolutely in the work that we're doing to develop the strength of our relationship with our Eastern Partners, and I will mention efforts particularly on three levels

First of all, it's the importance of the economic reforms that are going on and the opportunity of stronger economic links - beneficial for those countries, beneficial for the European Union, and really significant for the people, for their economic well-being in the future

Secondly, on the political ties we are very clear - and the countries present here today have long and deep experience with this - of the need to see political reform and change and development, to bring for the people strong and deep democracy, not just based on won election but based on all of the kind of reforms that will bring the strength to the people of democracy, freedom, human rights and rule of law

And thirdly, the links between our people, the opportunity for people to have that dialogue together - civil society, people to people, business to business. Those opportunities we want to encourage and strengthen them into the future

As we look forward to the next EaP Summit in 2013, as we look forward to the EaP Road Map -these are the things we want to focus on. We also expect the countries with whom we work to promote reform. Our purpose is to help support the reforms and changes that will bring the Eastern Partnership that which the people of the European Union can enjoy

And you have asked specifically about Ukraine - we have, as you know, completed the work on what we call an Association Agreement with Ukraine, and Stefan Fiile has played the most vital role in that. We're going to move forward with initialing that. What I would say is that you can never divorce economics and politics, and the links between stronger and closer ties with the reality of what's happening in any country. We have been clear to the government of Ukraine that by international standards Yulia Tymoshenko was not dealt with properly and we call upon Ukraine to not only understand that, but if you like to remedy that, using established international justice. And we will continue to call for that to happen

Finally let me just briefly comment on the situation in Syria. We have been very clear that it's critical to have the Security Council act on the tragedy that is unfolding in Syria. I pay tribute to the Member States of the Security Council but also to all Member States for their work in the UN General Assembly

And I hope that the discussions that the Foreign Minister of Russia has today with the Jordanian Foreign Minister and the meeting between Russia and the Arab League will be opportunities for the newly elected President of Russia to be able to push forward on Syria in a collegial way for the rest of the international community. There is no question that we need to see action from the international community to get into Syria the humanitarian aid so desperately needed in Horns right now. And we need Russia's participation to help us to achieve that