Germany’s development minister to boycott Ukraine Euro 2012 over Yulia Tymoshenko

“It is wrong to lock people up in prison because of political convictions,”
Niebel, who is a member of the pro-business Free Democrats, a junior partner
in the governing centre-right coalition, said.

German President Joachim Gauck has rejected an invitation to a May 11-12 Yalta
summit meeting while German Chancellor Angela Merkel is reportedly
considering ordering ministers not to attend matches.

She told a newspaper last week that she would decide whether to attend
Ukraine-held games at the last minute.

The Austrian government has already announced a boycott and the European Union
has said all its commissioners will skip next month’s Euro 2012 football
events in the country.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov Monday slammed Euro boycott calls in
the country, which co-hosts the championships with Poland starting June 8,
as humiliating to the Ukrainian people.

A Ukrainian daily newspaper close to the party of President Viktor Yanukovych
Friday published an editorial accusing Germany of not changing since the
Third Reich and still trying to dictate its rule.

Germany coach Joachim Loew on Monday joined national captain Philipp Lahm in
criticising Ukraine over Tymoshenko.

Loew told reporters that a boycott of the European championships by any team
was “clearly not sensible” but that the political situation in
Ukraine was of concern.

Germany, which is among the favourites to win Euro 2012, will play all three
of their opening games in Ukraine.

Source: AFP

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