The Hindu : International : Putin congratulates Yushchenko

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 21, 2005

International

International

Putin congratulates Yushchenko

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW: The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, congratulated Ukraine's Opposition leader, Viktor Yushchenko, on his election even as the Ukrainian Parliament decided to hold the inauguration ceremony on Sunday. Hours after Ukraine's Supreme Court rejected a final appeal against the vote, upholding Mr. Yushchenko's victory, Mr. Putin sent him a congratulatory telegram that stressed the importance Russia attached to ties with Ukraine. "Development of good-neighbourly and equitable relations with Ukraine is one of the most important national priorities for Russia," Mr. Putin said in what appeared to be an effort to ease tension between the two leaders caused by Moscow's support for Mr. Yushchenko's rival, the former Prime Minister, Viktor Yanukovich, in Ukraine's controversial poll. He also urged Mr. Yushchenko, who vowed to take Ukraine to the European Union, to stay in a free trade zone Russia is trying to build with Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Belarus.

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