Tymoshenko Delivers on Promises in “Contract with Investors”
BYuT, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, January 17, 2008

KYIV - With less than 30 days passed since her coalition government was confirmed, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is already delivering on promises made in her “Contract with Investors.”  Six specific measures were envisioned in her campaign program in order to “Advance Trade Opportunities via the EU and WTO.”  

On Wednesday, her newly-formed government accomplished the first of these measures by achieving a mutually satisfactory compromise between the EU and Ukraine on export tariffs, which clears the path for WTO accession and an EU-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (FTA).  The agreement prompted EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson to call it an "historic day, a very important breakthrough for Ukraine.”

To achieve this breakthrough, Vice Prime Minister for European Integration Hryhoriy Nemyria travelled to London to meet with Commissioner Mandelson. 

Following the meeting, Commissioner Mandelson said in a statement that he and Vice Prime Minister Nemyria had “sealed the final terms of the agreement,” clearing the way for Ukraine’s entry into the WTO and an EU-Ukraine FTA.  He was quoted as saying, “This is the first step toward greater Ukrainian integration with the global and the European economy.”  The EU is Ukraine’s largest trading partner and its largest market.

Tymoshenko meets with Senator Lugar 
BYuT, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, January 17, 2008

KYIV - Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and key advisors met with Senator Richard Lugar in Kyiv on Tuesday, January 15, to discuss a variety of issues including bilateral relations, WTO accession, energy security and Euro-Atlantic integration.  The meeting was the second time in less than a year that the two have met. 

In April 2007, Senator Lugar met with the Prime Minister while she was still leading the Opposition.  During a press conference given by Senator Lugar at the residence of U.S. Ambassador William Taylor, the Senator stated that the economic development efforts “substantiated Ukraine’s membership in the WTO this year.”   During his visit, Senator Lugar also met with President Yushchenko.

Nemyria forges breakthrough on WTO accession, Free Trade Agreement
BYuT, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, January 17, 2008

KYIV - Vice Prime Minister for European Integration Hryhoriy Nemyria travelled to London on 16 January to meet with EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson in order to break the impasse between the EU and Ukraine on WTO accession. 

Previous Ukrainian governments had been unable to overcome conflicts with the EU over export tariffs, preventing Ukraine’s WTO accession and limiting Ukraine’s ability to integrate more fully with the EU in trade and other EU Neighborhood Policy programs. 

Commissioner Mandelson said that “Today’s agreement clears the way for Ukraine to join the world’s trading system” and that “this is the first step toward greater Ukrainian integration with the global and the European economy”.  The EU is Ukraine’s largest trading partner and its largest market.