OREANDA-NEWS. On September 09, 2008 at the joint press conference with the EU leaders following the XII EU-Ukraine Summit President Victor Yushchenko stressed that the sides have agreed that the new agreement between the EU and Ukraine would be an association agreement, reported the Official website www.president.gov.ua.

“We have agreed that the new document, that will be regulating our relations in the nearest future will be named the agreement on association”, - he said.

He also assumed that the document would be signed in the second half of 2009.

“Dynamics of our joint elaboration of the document has been absolutely positive. We are optimistic about the results we have achieved as well as perspective of signing it in 2009; approximately in the second half of 2009”, - Victor Yushchenko said.

President also added that the new document would be similar to those that the EU had signed with Central and Eastern European countries that later became members of the union. “We are happy about such an ambition and such a nature of this agreement”, - he said.

Beside that President informed that sides have agreed to replace EU-Ukraine Action Plan with a new instrument of cooperation. “This is a step forward in filling our relations with applied projects”, - said Victor Yushchenko.

Sides have agreed to begin expert talks on visa-free entry to the EU for Ukrainian citizens.

President Yushchenko also expressed opinion that in 2009 a free trade zone will be established.

As a separate important achievement President named mentioning of support towards Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the final joint statement.

Making general remarks on the results of the Summit President Yushchenko named it historic for relations between Ukraine and the EU.