FOXNews.com: Merkel, others, urge treatment for Tymoshenko

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Merkel, others, urge treatment for Tymoshenko May 3rd 2012, 13:57 BERLIN –  German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Ukraine on Thursday to allow jailed ex-Premier Yulia Tymoshenko "proper treatment" for her ailments, reiterating that the former prime minister could come to Germany for medical care. Merkel declined to immediately join a handful of other governments and dignitaries who have announced they would boycott Euro 2012 games being hosted by Ukraine, decisions that have come as a blow to a country that had hoped the soccer championship would showcase the country and boost its ties with the European Union. Merkel said she had not yet decided whether to say away and that her priority now is the former leader's health. "Much more important than my travel plans is that we must now do everything possible to see that Yulia Tymoshenko gets the proper treatment for her medical problems as soon as possible," she was quoted as saying by the Koelner Stadt-Anzeiger newspaper. "The German government has been working on this for weeks and our offer stands for her to receive this medical treatment in Germany." Tymoshenko, 51, is on a hunger strike to protest alleged mistreatment in a Ukraine prison where she is serving a seven-year sentence on charges of abusing her powers while prime minister. She claims guards punched her and twisted her arms and legs while forcibly taking her to a hospital to be treated for debilitating back pain. Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych is a fierce rival of Tymoshenko, but government officials have denied any claims of bias in the case, which the West widely sees as political. The case is overshadowing Ukraine's hopes for Euro 2012, one of Europe's top sporting events of the year. "The Tymoshenko case has dramatically darkened the chances of Ukraine improving its image during the Euro," Ukrainian political analyst Vadym Karasyov said. "Ukraine will be judged not by how well it organizes a European sporting event, but by Tymoshenko's case, the political repressions, the bruises on Tymoshenko's body that she said she got in prison." In Kiev, Parliament speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn acknowledged the Tymoshenko case has put Ukraine in a difficult position. "The situation is pretty tough today in the country," said Lytvyn, a Yanukovych ally. "This is linked to the court hearings, the reaction from Western countries. All of this has become a problem for the country and obviously for Europe." German President Joachim Gauck has already said he would boycott Ukrainian games of the June 8-July 1 Euro 2012 tournament, which is being co-hosted with Poland. Other officials who have said they will not attend include European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso; the governments of Austria and Belgium said Wednesday that they would also join the boycott. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Thursday that while he was disturbed by Ukraine's treatment of Tymoshenko and is urging Ukraine to observe human rights standards, he did not plan on supporting a boycott. He said he believes Tymoshenko herself wouldn't want to see preparations for the Euro 2012 to go to waste. "It is with pain that we view the problems of our neighbors," Tusk told reporters Warsaw. "I have appealed multiple times to the authorities in Ukraine not to let politics ruins this national celebration and nothing will affect our determination to fight for human rights and alleviate the situation of Yulia Tymoshenko." During a visit to Lithuania, U.S. Senator John McCain joined the chorus calling for Tymoshenko to receive urgent medical care. McCain also said the Ukraine's leadership cannot expect closer relations with Europe while it persecutes political opponents and fails to hold free and fair elections. "The message needs to be clear and sent now by the EU to the Ukrainian government," he said, suggesting that international observers could go to Ukraine and arrange for Tymoshenko to leave. ___ Melnichuk reported from Kiev, Ukraine. Gary Peach in Riga, Latvia, and Vanessa Gera in Warsaw, Poland contributed to this report.

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