The European Union has welcomed the agreement between rival Ukrainian leaders to end the country's political crisis by holding early parliamentary elections on September 30.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said in a statement that he congratulates Ukrainian leaders for their "show of commitment to democracy."
Solana said he is hopeful the agreement between President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych will allow Ukraine to return its focus to implementing reforms to deepen the partnership between the European Union and Ukraine.
The two leaders have been engaged in a political struggle that intensified in April, when Yushchenko issued a decree to dissolve parliament and hold early elections. Yushchenko claimed that the order was justified by what he said was Yanukovych's attempt to usurp power.
Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org
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