EU head of diplomacy ‘concerned’ over Tymoshenko arrest
PR dla Zagranicy
John Beauchamp
02.09.2011 16:05
Before the start of a two-day informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in the Baltic resort of Sopot, Friday, the EU’s head of diplomacy, Catherine Ashton voiced her concerns about the arrest and trial of Yulia Tymoshenko in the Ukraine.
EU head of diplomacy Catherine Ashton speaks to journalists ahead of the informal summit in Sopot, Friday. Photo: PAP/Adam Warżawa
The former prime minister is being charged with abusing public office in 2009 when making gas deals with Russia. Recently, Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski stated that the move to arrest Tymoshenko could be “an obstacle” to bringing Ukraine closer to the EU.
The informal meeting, which is headed by Ashton, is being held as part of Poland’s continuing EU Council presidency.
Writing on his micro-blog, Radoslaw Sikorski ‘tweeted’ from the summit that he submitted a joint letter to Ashton written by France, Spain, Italy, Germany and Poland on the strengthening of European security policy.
The move comes as neighbourhood relations with countries to the east of the 27-nation bloc are on the agenda ahead of an Eastern Partnership summit to be held in Warsaw towards the end of the month.
Catherine Ashton said that there will also be talks “on the Middle East peace process,” and on the acknowledgement of Palestine’s statehood within the UN.
The motion so far has been opposed by Germany and Italy, with Ashton herself being reported by Israeli media as trying to persuade Palestine to back down from the application.
The summit ends tomorrow, Saturday. (jb)