Yushchenko throws open Ukraine's borders
During his visit to Warsaw last week, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko outlined his plans for deepening political and economic ties with the West, and appealed for support from the US and Europe.
"In November this year Ukraine should enter the WTO," he said, adding that negotiations on a free-trade agreement with the EU should begin "in the next year or two."
He asked that by June the two powers grant Ukraine 'market economy' status, a prerequisite for a closer trade relationship with the EU and US.
He also called on the US and EU to relax their visa regulations for Ukrainians.
"We would want them to ease the visa regime for the entry of Ukrainian residents to the EU and America. The first category here would be students," he said. In what it calls an experiment designed to show the open nature of Ukranian society, Ukraine will lift visa requirements for EU citizens from May 1 to September 1 this year, and is asking for reciprocal moves.
During a visit to Washington two weeks ago, Yushchenko said that Ukraine was working on making it easier for Americans to travel to his country, and asked for looser rules for groups such as students, politicians and business travelers in return.
Achieving closer ties with the West has been one of Yushchenko's top priorities ever since being swept to power in Ukraine's 'Orange Revolution' last November. (Reuters) A.K.
"In November this year Ukraine should enter the WTO," he said, adding that negotiations on a free-trade agreement with the EU should begin "in the next year or two."
He asked that by June the two powers grant Ukraine 'market economy' status, a prerequisite for a closer trade relationship with the EU and US.
He also called on the US and EU to relax their visa regulations for Ukrainians.
"We would want them to ease the visa regime for the entry of Ukrainian residents to the EU and America. The first category here would be students," he said. In what it calls an experiment designed to show the open nature of Ukranian society, Ukraine will lift visa requirements for EU citizens from May 1 to September 1 this year, and is asking for reciprocal moves.
During a visit to Washington two weeks ago, Yushchenko said that Ukraine was working on making it easier for Americans to travel to his country, and asked for looser rules for groups such as students, politicians and business travelers in return.
Achieving closer ties with the West has been one of Yushchenko's top priorities ever since being swept to power in Ukraine's 'Orange Revolution' last November. (Reuters) A.K.
