After visiting Kiev with his Polish, Dutch, and Danish colleagues on Thursday, Linkevičius told BNS that Ukraine still failed to consider the preconditions made by the EU, which would build the “critical mass” for a positive decision in connection to the Association Agreement.
"Today I still have the feeling that it (the critical mass) is still absent, and the decision wouldn't be made today. However, this does not mean that it will not be made separately. I believe they're on the good path, they understand the meaning and the importance, and this is key. I think there is a possibility to achieve what we all want, however, this will not be made automatically," the Lithuanian foreign minister said.
"I have been repeatedly asked whether the preconditions included (Ukrainian ex-PM Yulia) Tymoshenko's release from prison. My answer is that the precondition is to diminish or fully clear the doubts of selective justice. This is the answer. It is a sensitive matter for many countries, and the decision has to be reached by way of agreement. Twenty-seven countries have to approve, they also have parliaments and civil societies," Linkevičius added.
Asked to specify the deadline for Ukraine to proceed with its reforms to be able to expect to sign the Association Agreement during the EU Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius in November, Linkevičius said: "The fall."
"It could turn out that we say 'later, we won't make it in time now.' This is a case when time is not on our side," he added.
In the minister's words, the meeting between the EU ministers and Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych lasted more than two hours and was aimed at "first of all delivering the message that we highly appreciate our partnership with Ukraine and welcome the latest steps taken by the administration – the release of former interior minister Yuri Lutsenko."
"However, we emphasized that there are many issues that still need to be addressed. We all seek to have the Association Agreement signed during the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius in the end of November, however, much needs to be done for this to happen. As I've already said, the positive thing is that Lutsenko and another former minister have been released – these are good moves in the direction of clearing the doubts of selective justice, however, this is not all. Yulia Tymoshenko remains in prison, there are various interpretations in connection to the imprisonment. Some believe this could be selective and politicized justice," the minister said.
In his words, the EU ministers also said in Kiev that the legislation needed for elections and legal system reforms should also be accelerated.
"How this is done and the efficiency of the process will, of course, depend on Ukraine. We delivered the message to the administration and the opposition, as the decision has to be made by all in Ukraine," Linkevičius said.
Ukraine expects to sign the Association Agreement during the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius on November 28-29, which will be held in the framework of Lithuania's presidency over the EU Council.
The EU and Ukraine finalized negotiations on the Agreement back in late 2011 but the EU still demands more reforms from Ukraine before the signature of the Agreement. Brussels wants Kiev to prevent "selective justice" and reforms of the election system.
A group of Lithuanian parliamentarians and opposition figures visited Kiev last week and initiated a joint communiqué of Ukraine's opposition parties in support of signing the Association Agreement in Vilnius.
