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EU, NATO hail Ukraine vote as mandate for reform

27 October 2014, 17:04 CET
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(BRUSSELS) - EU and NATO leaders on Monday hailed parliamentary elections held in Ukraine on the weekend as a victory for democracy and a mandate for reform in the ex-Soviet state struggling to shake off Russia's influence.

Ukraine's pro-Western and moderately nationalist parties were on course to score a crushing election win that boosted President Petro Poroshenko's bid to lead his country closer to Europe.

"Congratulations to the people of #Ukraine! Victory of democracy and European reforms' agenda," tweeted Jose Manuel Barroso, the head of the EU executive body the European Commission.

Barroso joined European Council President Herman Van Rompuy in urging Ukrainians to forge a national consensus aimed at "intensifying much needed political and economic reforms" as their country deepens cooperation with Europe.

In September, Ukraine and the EU ratified a political association agreement, whose rejection last year sparked the overthrow in early 2014 of a pro-Moscow government in Kiev and the current crisis with Russia.

Martin Schulz, president of the European parliament, said the journey that started with the overthrow is "complete" now there was a new parliament in addition to a new president.

He said the new parliament and the government that will be formed will have to work for a peaceful solution to the pro-Moscow rebellion in eastern Ukraine, "launch an economic rebirth," and begin reforms, including "rooting out chronic corruption".

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg echoed EU comments that the people of Ukraine have "clearly and democratically spoken in favour of an ambitious reform agenda and a European path".

But he "strongly" regretted that people in Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula annexed by Russia in March, and in rebel-held areas of eastern Ukraine could either not vote nor express their opinions freely due to fear.

"NATO continues to support Ukraine's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders," he said.

"An independent, sovereign and stable Ukraine, firmly committed to democracy and the rule of law is key to Euro-Atlantic security," he added.

Unlike some of its neighbouring former Soviet states, Ukraine is not a member of NATO.


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