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Ukraine to welcome foreign observers at parliamentary polls

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KIEV, March 6 (RIA Novosti) - Ukraine will welcome foreign observers at its parliamentary elections on March 26, the country's president was quoted as saying Monday.

President Viktor Yushchenko was speaking by telephone with Javier Solana, the European Union's high commissioner for common foreign and security policy, the presidential press service said.

"Parliamentary elections ... will be held in accordance with the principles of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe [the world's largest security organization], and the Ukrainian side is ready to provide all the necessary conditions for foreign observers," Yushchenko said.

The press service said relations between Ukraine and the EU dominated the conversation, including Ukraine's integration into the EU and its future membership of the World Trade Organization. In mid-February, Ukraine overcame the last obstacle on the way to the WTO when the U.S. granted it the status of a market economy. The EU declared Ukraine a market economy at the end of 2005.

Yushchenko and Solana also discussed the domestic political situation in Ukraine, including the constitutional crisis that erupted in January after parliament dismissed the government of Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov over its handling of the gas dispute with Russia.

The two also talked about cooperation in regional security. Ukraine has been seeking NATO membership since Yushchenko came to power following a popular uprising, or the 'orange revolution', in 2003.

The conversation also highlighted energy policy in the context of a recent spat between Russia and Ukraine over gas prices that led to shortfalls in Russian natural gas supplies to European consumers early this year. Russia accused Ukraine of stealing gas meant for European customers.

The two also praised a session between Ukraine and the EU trio of Britain, Germany and France on March 3, when Yushchenko said that prospective EU membership would encourage the country to promote democratic principles and market reforms.

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