Ukraine is not alone, it has friends in Europe - Bayers

The current situation in Ukraine cannot be viewed in isolation from All-European and worldwide processes. 

Steven Bayers, British MP, Head of the YES Board, said so during a round-table session "Agenda - 2020" and future relations between Ukraine and the EU" at the 4th YES summit held in Livadia Palace in Yalta.

"It is very important for the People of Ukraine to control their destiny through democratic means and processes", - said Bayers and added that Ukraine acknowledged it and Europe approves it. "Ukraine is not alone, we can witness periods of critical changes occurring in more mature democracies", - said he.

"The 4th YES summit has been convened in hard times for Ukraine, nevertheless, we would like that everyone understands that Ukraine does have friends who will always share joy and sufferings", - said the Head of the YES Board. According to him, the key goal of the summit is to discuss practical steps for Ukraine for joining the EU in the future. "The subject for debate must not consist in setting up the year of Ukraine's accession to the EU. We should discuss strategic goals", - emphasized Bayers.

He also noted that Europe needed to implement series of institutional and political reforms since their lack thereof would hinder the enlargement process. "Our key objective is in convincing the European public opinion that the European Union needs further enlargement", - emphasized Steven Bayers.

"Yalta European Strategy" (YES) is an independent organization, which brings together high-level policy-makers, business leaders, thinkers, researchers, and journalists in Ukraine and abroad to facilitate Ukraine's accession to EU. The annual YES summits in Yalta have become the leading informal high-level forum focused on discussing and development of political recommendations. In 2006, the YES experts developed an analytical document "Agenda-2020", representing a step-by-step strategy for Ukraine's accession to the European Union in 2020. YES organization was created by a Ukrainian businessman and public figure, Victor Pinchuk in 2004.