OREANDA-NEWS. March 21, 2011. The Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov said that Ukrain takes a flexible position in negotiations on the Agreement on the free trade area with the European Union. This was stressed by the Ukrainian Premier during the meeting with British businessmen.

"Our position in the negotiations compromised enough", - emphasized Mykola Azarov repeatedly commenting on the situation regarding the negotiations with EU on the free trade area.

The Head of Government noted that the actually position of the agreement on an FTA with the European Union has agreed by 90%; still has not agreed sensitive issues for Ukraine on agriculture and services transporters.

According to him, through the introduction of very low quotas for Ukrainian agricultural products (wheat - about 20 thousand tons of, pig meat - 1,5 thousand tons, poultry meat - 1 thousand tons) "European market practically remains closed to Ukraine”. "It's not an open market is not free trade", - Mykola Azarov said.

The solution to the situation, according to the Prime Minister, is a compromise that would be based on a gradual, over 10 years, increasing the quotas for Ukrainian food to gradually come to trade without restrictions and exemptions. "Let's find a compromise position: if you insist on maintaining quotas, we are ready to go to meet and maintain these quotas, but for a fixed term. Let's establish a transition period of 10 years and each year these quotas will increase, and then cancel them ", - Mykola Azarov suggested. He added that "A contract is signed it not for one year but for years".

The Head of Ukrainian Government expressed surprise at the restrictions for agricultural products from Ukraine to European markets under the increase of food crisis and unstable climatic conditions in the world. According to Mykola Azarov, Ukraine, which has enough fertile land and favorable climate, provided the necessary reforms in agriculture would greatly complement the EU market high-quality food.

As to the second position in the controversial negotiations on an FTA with the EU to provide services to transporters Mykola Azarov said: "Hundreds of thousands of people working in this business: how can we close it, and tell people that tomorrow they will become unemployed”.

But the Prime Minister expressed hope for consensus in the negotiation process with EU totals: "Out of what I said, it is clear that our position is flexible and we have a desire to negotiate".

In turn, British Ambassador to Ukraine Mr. Leigh Turner said he hoped to sign an agreement this year on a FTA between Ukraine and the European Union.