Reuters - 01.20.2005

Putin finally congratulates Ukraine's Yushchenko

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Viktor Yushchenko on Thursday on becoming leader of Ukraine, nearly a month after a re-run presidential election in Russia's ex-Soviet neighbour.

"The development of good-neighbourly and equal relations with Ukraine is one of Russia's most important national priorities," the Kremlin quoted Putin's message to Yushchenko as saying.

Putin sent his congratulations after Ukraine's Supreme court rejected final appeals by Yushchenko's rival -- former Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich -- and allowed media publication of the results of Dec. 26 repeat of the runoff vote, clearing the way for Yushchenko's inauguration on Sunday.

The formal congratulations by Putin ends an awkward diplomatic moment for the Kremline leader.

The re-run was called after the Supreme Court declared as fraudulent an earlier November runoff, in which the pro-Moscow Yanukovich was announced a winner. Putin twice congratulated Yanukovich, whom he publicly endorsed throughout the election campaign, before his victory was quashed by the court.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday welcomed statements by the Western-leaning Yushchenko that he intended to develop close relations with neighbour Russia.

Putin urged Yushchenko to keep up efforts toward economic integration of former Soviet republics.

"I am convinced that consistency in deepening our strategic partnership fully meets our people's long-term interests," he wrote in his message to Yushchenko.