Eu Praises Ukrainian Election

The European Union called Sunday's Ukrainian parliamentary elections a "victory of the people of Ukraine and democracy" in a statement released Monday.



As the votes continue to be counted, Ukraine seems on the path to elect its most pro-European parliament of its 23-year-old history, pulling the country further away from Russia and closer to Europe.



"The electoral mandate given by the Ukrainian people must now be implemented," said European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, in a joint statement.



Both Ukrainian President and billionaire chocolate magnate Petro Poroshenko's bloc and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk's conservative People's Front have received approximately 22 percent of the votes, with about 65 percent counted. They are set to make an alliance.



"On the basis of the outcome of the elections, a broad national consensus should be sought in view of intensifying much needed political and economic reforms in Ukraine," the statement said.



International observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) also praised the elections, saying it "largely upheld democratic commitments."



The OSCE also said in a press release on Monday that the new parliament "should ensure that key reforms are passed, and grievances should be resolved with respect for the rule of law and through democratic institutions."



Crimea and most parts of the eastern region of Donbas, which are still not under the full control of Ukrainian authorities, did not participate in the elections.



A trilateral gas meeting will be held between the EU, Ukraine and Russia in Brussels on Wednesday. On Tuesday last week Russia, the EU and Ukraine failed to agree on a deal that would supply Ukraine with Russian gas this winter.



www.aa.com.tr/en - Brüksel