Prime Minister Joseph Muscat this evening held a teleconference with European Commission President José Manuel Barroso to discuss Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, who will be visiting Malta next Monday and Tuesday.

The EU President reiterated the Commission’s view that Malta should host the Ukrainian President, whose visit is being seen as strategic and of significant importance.

Dr Muscat said he would be conveying the common EU position which specifies that Europe's door remains open to Ukraine, but that it should finally be the Ukrainian’s people's choice. There will also be an unequivocal message against any type of violence.

President Yanukovich’s visit would be the first to an EU State since Ukraine froze the signing of a cooperation agreement with the European Union.

Dr Muscat believes that the Ukrainian people are sending clear signals to the Ukrainian President that the way forward for Ukraine is for closer cooperation and eventual membership in the EU.

 

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