Ukraine should be given a chance to join the European Union, and the people of the former Soviet republic should have the final say on membership, Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski said Wednesday.
"Ukraine should be given a chance to join the Union, and it's up to Ukrainians to say if they want to or not, and decide to meet EU entry criteria or not," Kwasniewski said in an interview with the Roman Catholic weekly Tygodnik Powszechny.
The president chided Europe and the United States for what he said was their lack of interest in Ukraine, and urged them to "change their policies towards Kiev."
"They should encourage investment and increase contacts at all levels," as they had done with other former communist countries which have since joined the European Union.
Kwasniewski said he hoped the EU would adopt "a more daring plan of action which would include a date to begin negotiations with the Ukrainians about their possible accession."
Kwasniewski, whose own country joined the EU last May, played a key role in brokering a way out of the crisis that arose in Ukraine after a controversial election in November.
The pro-Moscow candidate, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich, claimed to have won despite accusations of fraud and intimidation by the opposition.
As a result of mediation by Poland and other countries, a rerun election was held on December 26, which saw pro-Western opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko sweep to victory against Yanukovich.
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