EU official: Ukraine should delay joining

KIEV, Ukraine, May 4 (UPI) -- A senior European Union official said Ukraine should postpone applying for EU membership to avoid refusal, ForUm reported Wednesday.

"During 'orange revolution' (the Ukranian) people demonstrated that they share our (EU) value," said Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Commissar of European commission on foreign relations and policy of European neighborhood. "Though, now one should become realistic. Take economy into account: a lot should be changed in this respect."

She said similar economic changes should be considered by other former Soviet republics, specifically Moldova and Georgia, before those nations apply for EU membership.