Ukraine Will Not Be 'Beggar' With EU

Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych (file photo) (epa) September 5, 2006 -- Ukraine's parliament convened today for its autumn session and for the first time since the pro-Russian Party of the Regions formed a government.

Addressing the session, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych reiterated that Ukraine's European integration remains the "strategic goal" of his government.

However, he said that "the new government sees its task as making [Ukraine] a strong, self-sufficient, and therefore interesting partner for Brussels in the negotiation process with the European Union, instead of the beggar that Ukraine has been until now."

Yanukovych said he would wanted seek make Ukraine a place where "stability and predictability reign."

The legislature approved Yanukovych as prime minister on August 4. The move came after Yanukovych's pro-Moscow Party of the Regions and President Viktor Yushchenko's pro-Western Our Ukraine party agreed on a declaration of principles laying the foundations for a broad coalition.

Yanukovych also called on Ukraine's main opposition party, the Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc, to cooperate with the government to develop the country.

Tymoshenko, Yushchenko's former 2004 Orange Revolution ally, dismissed Yanukovych's call, saying her party would not be a "comrade" to his government and that it will be a "real opposition."

(UNIAN, Interfax-Ukraine)