Ukrainian president pledges to resolve Tymoshenko issue for European integration

En Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych on Friday pledged to make more efforts to resolve the controversial case of jailed former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko in a bid to sign partnership deals with the European Union (EU). "We are searching ways and I hope that soon we will finally decide how to solve this issue," Yanukovych said during a meeting here with Stefan Fule, European Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement For his part, Fule stressed the importance of solving the problem of selective justice in Ukraine for signature of an association agreement and a free trade pact between Kiev and the EU. The official expressed his hope that Ukraine would seal the deals at the Eastern Partnership Summit slated for November in Vilnius, capital of Lithuania. "I am optimistic about the Vilnius summit outcome and looking forward for it," Fule said. The issue of Tymoshenko is the major obstacle for Kiev in its relations with the EU. The 28-member block has been calling for the former Ukrainian prime minister's release since her conviction in October 2011, calling the case an "example of selective justice." Tymoshenko, who is said to be suffering severe back pains, is serving a seven-year jail term for abuse of power in a 2009 gas deal with Russia. She has repeatedly called the allegations politically motivated and insisted on her innocence.