Ukraine, EU sign political part of agreement

Arseniy Yatsenyuk (Beta/AP)

Ukraine, EU sign political part of agreement

BRUSSELS -- Representatives of the Ukrainian provisional government on Friday in Brussels signed the association agreement with the European Union.

The agreement was signed by on behalf of Ukraine by acting Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, officials said.

Last year's decision of the ousted President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych not to sign the agreement led to months of demonstrations, and finally to regime change in Ukraine.

The EU has divided agreement in two parts - political and economic - "to provide an opportunity for the transitional government to immediately sign the first part," according to reports.

The economic part of the agreement "will be signed after the presidential election and the formation of a new government in May."

"The signing of the political part of the Association Agreement with Ukraine's prime minister will seal the close friendship that is bringing Ukraine closer to the EU", European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso was quoted as saying on Thursday.

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