The European Union urged President Viktor Yushchenko Thursday to act fast to restore stability after sacking Ukraine’s government, while saying it is sure he remains committed to western values.
The European Commission said it was watching developments closely after Yushchenko — who was elected in December after the country’s ”Orange revolution” — appointed a senior regional official as acting prime minister.
”President Yushchenko won the elections on a platform of commitments to reform, committments to rooting out corruption and a clean hands policy,” said a spokeswoman for the commission, the executive arm of the 25-nation EU.
”We are confident that these remain the guiding principles of his administration,” added spokesperson Emma Udwin.
”We hope that he will take rapid action to ensure continuity and to maintain stability.”
Yushchenko said he sacked his government because infighting within his administration had begun to interfere with the goals that he had set for his administration after he took power following last year’s popular uprising.
The announcement came hours after two more top officials resigned in a snowballing government corruption scandal that has left Yushchenko facing his biggest political crisis.
The EU commission downplayed any immediate threat from events in Kiev to Ukraine’s relations with the EU. Yushchenko swept to power on a platform of forging closer ties with the West including the EU.
”We trust that this internal matter will not be allowed to disrupt in any way the close cooperation that we enjoy with the Ukrainians,” said Udwin. – AFP
