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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| EU summit monitors Ukraine gains | EU summit monitors Ukraine gains |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The European Union is holding a summit in Ukraine on Friday but it is likely to be overshadowed by political uncertainty in the country. | The European Union is holding a summit in Ukraine on Friday but it is likely to be overshadowed by political uncertainty in the country. |
| A bitter power struggle between the country's leaders led to an early election being called. | A bitter power struggle between the country's leaders led to an early election being called. |
| The summit is due to be attended by the presidents of the European Union and the European Commission. | The summit is due to be attended by the presidents of the European Union and the European Commission. |
| The event hosted by Ukraine's president and prime minister will discuss the progress the country has made. | The event hosted by Ukraine's president and prime minister will discuss the progress the country has made. |
| Ukraine became a pro-Western country almost three years ago. | Ukraine became a pro-Western country almost three years ago. |
| Following the mass protests of the 2004 Orange Revolution this former Soviet republic turned its back on Russia and made membership of the European Union one of its top priorities. | |
| Expectations of Ukraine were high. | Expectations of Ukraine were high. |
| While the country has become more democratic, the pace of reform has been slow and there has been one crisis after another. | While the country has become more democratic, the pace of reform has been slow and there has been one crisis after another. |
| A former Ukrainian foreign minister told me that there is frustration in Brussels at the continuing political turmoil. | A former Ukrainian foreign minister told me that there is frustration in Brussels at the continuing political turmoil. |
| At the heart of this is a power struggle between the president and the prime minister. | At the heart of this is a power struggle between the president and the prime minister. |
| But despite this instability, President Viktor Yushchenko says there is agreement over Ukraine's European position. | But despite this instability, President Viktor Yushchenko says there is agreement over Ukraine's European position. |
| "This direction of Ukrainian politics has no alternatives," said Mr Yushchenko. | |
| "It is not just a matter of fashion that we move towards the West. It means that Ukraine will grow stronger, and that we will be able to work towards European integration and Nato." | "It is not just a matter of fashion that we move towards the West. It means that Ukraine will grow stronger, and that we will be able to work towards European integration and Nato." |
| This summit was organised long before the early election was called for late September. | This summit was organised long before the early election was called for late September. |
| It is expected that President Yushchenko and Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych will be told that the vote in two weeks' time will be a key test of the country's democracy and its commitment to European values. |