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Derechos | Equipo Nizkor
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Derechos | Equipo Nizkor
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18Apr14
Geneva agreements can resolve Ukrainian crisis, if they are fulfilled - Russia's envoy to UN
Vitaly Churkin, Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN, expressed his satisfaction in the agreements on Ukrainian issue struck in Geneva on Thursday, but called upon waiting for their fulfillment. "The agreement seems to be good. Anyway, we will be looking after its fulfillment. We see that the situation is moving off dead center - the agreement comprises a clause stipulating transparent and inclusive constitutional process. This is what we were fighting for," Churkin told journalists in the headquarters of the UN.
The agreement concluded on Thursday after a conference with Russia, Ukraine, the US and the EU stipulates a constitutional process that will be "transparent, inclusive and accountable". The document states that all illegal armed forces should disarm, quit seized buildings, streets and squares in Ukrainian cities. The participants of the conference also agreed upon rejecting any violence, intimidation and provocation as well as "any demonstrations of extremism, racism, religious intolerance, including anti-Semitism."
The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon approved the agreement, saying that its fulfillment will help to resolve Ukrainian crisis.
Russia, US, EU and Ukraine recognized the need to disarm illegal groups in Ukraine, free squares and streets and amnesty the protesters in order to bring the country out of the crisis, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday after four-party talks in Geneva. The participants of the quadrilateral talks on ways to resolve the crisis in Ukraine have stressed the urgency of a national dialogue leading to constitutional reform in the country, the minister added.
Lavrov said the sides agreed that the crisis should be resolved by the Ukrainians themselves, with least interference by foreign mediators.
"The communique adopted today has a provision calling on the immediate start of a broad national dialogue in the context of a constitutional reform so that all regions could voice their wishes," Lavrov said after talks in Geneva.
"It's up to Kiev authorities now to ensure all-inclusive, transparent and accountable constitutional process," he said.
Lavrov said constitutional reforms will be held in Ukraine under any scenario and the rights and demands of all regions will be respected.
"The top priorities are decentralization, significant shift of authority on the regions, including their right to elect own legislative and executive bodies," the minister said.
"Here are the following steps that we urge to carry out: all illegal armed groups should be disarmed, all illegally occupied buildings should be returned to legitimate owners, all the occupied streets, squares and other public places in all cities of Ukraine should be released. Amnesty should be implemented on all the protesters, except of those who have committed serious crimes," said Lavrov.
He said that Russia gave Western partners documents with the position of south-east regions of Ukraine, which were not presented at the meeting. Lavrov said that the United States has a decisive influence on the Kiev authorities, nevertheless both the US and the EU show a sincere interest in solving the problems of Ukraine.
In turn, the US Secretary of State John Kerry said that the US intends to follow the way the Ukrainian authorities will fulfill their obligations that were pointed out in the Geneva communique. Kerry said that the authorities in Kiev have agreed to work actively with all representatives of the Ukrainian community for reform, but stressed that the US is ready to impose new sanctions against Russia if the protesters in the east do not fulfill all the points of the Geneva document.
The parties also agreed that there should be no attempt to alter or dilute the military and the political neutrality of Ukraine.
Following is a joint statement on Thursday by the four parties - Russia, the United States, the European Union and Ukraine - meeting in Geneva to discuss the continuing conflict in Ukraine:
The Geneva meeting on the situation in Ukraine agreed on initial concrete steps to de-escalate tensions and restore security for all citizens.
All sides must refrain from any violence, intimidation or provocative actions. The participants strongly condemned and rejected all expressions of extremism, racism and religious intolerance, including anti-Semitism.
All illegal armed groups must be disarmed; all illegally seized buildings must be returned to legitimate owners; all illegally occupied streets, squares and other public places in Ukrainian cities and towns must be vacated.
Amnesty will be granted to protesters and to those who have left buildings and other public places and surrendered weapons, with the exception of those found guilty of capital crimes.
It was agreed that the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission should play a leading role in assisting Ukrainian authorities and local communities in the immediate implementation of these de-escalation measures wherever they are needed most, beginning in the coming days. The US, E.U. and Russia commit to support this mission, including by providing monitors.
The announced constitutional process will be inclusive, transparent and accountable. It will include the immediate establishment of a broad national dialogue, with outreach to all of Ukraine's regions and political constituencies, and allow for the consideration of public comments and proposed amendments.
The participants underlined the importance of economic and financial stability in Ukraine and would be ready to discuss additional support as the above steps are implemented.
[Source: Strategic Culture Foundation, Moscow, 18Apr14]
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