Kiev : The Ukrainian parliament ratified a landmark EU pact that decisively steers the former Soviet state towards the West and away from Russian influence. President Petro Poroshenko told lawmakers the ratification of the association agreement — in a simultaneous vote with the European parliament in Strasbourg — was a “first step” towards membership of the European Union.
“Tell me, who will now dare to shut Ukraine’s doors to Europe? Who will be against our future membership in the EU, towards which today we are taking our first but very decisive step.” A total of 355 lawmakers voted in favour of the ratification of the pact — which had been rejected by former pro-Kremlin president Viktor Yanukovych in November, setting off months of turmoil that eventually led to his ouster and triggered Russia’s seizure of Crimea and a separatist uprising in the east, reports AFP.
However, Ukraine and the EU had agreed last week to delay until 2016 the implementation of a free trade deal that forms part of the pact, in what was seen as a concession to Russia.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian parliament approved two bills offering major concessions to independence-seeking insurgents and more autonomy to eastern regions where unrest has been raging since mid-April.
The bill to grant amnesty to detained insurgents, who participated in the violent confrontation with government troops, was backed by 287 of 342 lawmakers present at the assembly, Xinhua reported.
The new law would apply only to those insurgents, who have not committed “serious crimes” such as murder or torture.
The other bill, submitted to the parliament by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, which offers a “special status” to regions in eastern Ukraine for three years, was approved with 277 votes in favour.
The “special status” of the regions increases the authority of local communities by transferring more economic, financial and administrative powers to the regional governments.
