London: Former British premier Tony Blair
has landed into a major controversy following allegations that
he got thousands of pounds from a steel tycoon campaigning for
Ukraine to join the European Union.
According to 'The Sunday Times', Blair, the favourite
to become Europe's first president, accepted money from Victor
Pinchuk to support Ukraine's EU membership bid by giving a key
-note speech in that country.
Several European countries support closer economic
ties with Ukraine but have not directly backed a bid. Some,
including Germany, are concerned that closer links with
Ukraine may jeopardise relations with Russia.
But, Ukrainian diplomats are preparing to launch a
membership bid as early as next year and consider Blair a key
ally, the report said.
Blair's commercial activities and links to key
business figures such as Pinchuk will now come under scrutiny
in any campaign for the EU presidency. The details of the role
and contract of employment for the presidency are expected to
be discussed by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and other
world leaders this month.
Pinchuk founded Yalta European Strategy (YES) to
campaign for Ukraine to join the EU. Blair attended the annual
YES meeting in the Ukrainian city of Yalta last year, giving
the main speech, the report said.
Blair also attended an event sponsored by Pinchuk
at the Davos summit in Switzerland this year, along with Bill
Gates, Sir Richard Branson and Bill Clinton. He was not paid
for this event.
A spokesman for Blair confirmed he was not
paid for the Davos event but refused to comment on the Yalta
appearance.
Bureau Report
First Published: Sunday, October 11, 2009, 11:53