The document calls for an “immediate start of a nationwide national dialogue within the framework of the constitutional process, which must be inclusive and accountable,” Lavrov said.
The most important agreement reached during the talks, according to Lavrov, states that the Ukrainian crisis “must be resolved by the Ukrainians themselves concerning an end to the conflict” including those related to “detaining protesters, occupying buildings” and, in the long run “the start of true constitutional reform.”
“Among the steps that have to be taken are: the disarmament of all the illegal armed groups, and the return of all the occupied administrative buildings,” Lavrov told journalists at the Thursday briefing.
“An amnesty for all the protesters must take place, except of those who committed grave crimes,” the Foreign Minister added.
- The issue of illegal armed groups and seized buildings concerns all the regions of Ukraine, Lavrov stressed.
- “Those who took power in Kiev as a result of a coup - if they consider themselves as representing the interests of all the Ukrainians - must show the initiative, extend a friendly hand to the regions, listen to their concerns, and sit down with them at the negotiation table,” Lavrov said.
“We did not use any terms… There are federations where the rights of the regions are limited, and there are unitary states in name only where the regions have broad authority,” he explained.
The goal of the meeting was to send a signal to the Ukrainians that they are responsible for stability in the country and must ensure that “each region can protect its history and language,” Lavrov stressed.
“Only then will Ukraine be a strong state, a proverbial bridge between the East and the West,” Lavrov said.
The Russian side on Thursday provided US and EU representatives with documents passed on from south-eastern Ukrainians, which contain “a thorough vision of how their interests should be reflected in the new [Ukrainian] constitution.”
The OSCE’s (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) monitoring mission must play “the leading role” in assisting the Ukrainian authorities to resolve the crisis, Lavrov stressed, adding that Russia “will support” the mission’s work.
The Geneva meeting has given Russia “hopes” that “the US and the EU are genuinely interested in a trilateral cooperation with Russia aimed at convincing the Ukrainian to sit down at the negotiation table,” Lavrov said.
According to the Russian top diplomat, the Americans now have a “decisive influence” on the Kiev authorities, which should be used for resolving the crisis.
Russia “does not want to send any troops to Ukraine,” Lavrov stressed, answering journalists’ questions. Moscow’s chief concern is that the rights of all the Ukrainian regions, including those with Russian-speaking majorities, must be taken into account in the constitutional reform.
“We have absolutely no wish to send our troops to Ukraine, to the territory of a friendly state, to the land of a brotherly nation. This is against the fundamental interests of the Russian Federation,” Lavrov said.
- Calling the recent NATO statements on Ukraine’s neutrality “unacceptable,” Lavrov stressed that pushing for changes in the country’s non-aligned status will “undermine the efforts to resolve the crisis” in Ukraine.
Ahead of the quadrilateral talks, Lavrov met US Secretary of State John Kerry, while EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton saw Ukraine’s acting Foreign Minister Andrey Deshchytsa. Both meetings were held behind closed doors.
[rt.com]
17/4/14
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Lavrov: Ukrainian servicemen mobilized by illegal order to suppress protests...
ReplyDeleteGENEVA, April 17 /ITAR-TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after a four-party meeting on Ukraine on Thursday the Ukrainian servicemen had been mobilized into the army by an illegitimate decree to crack down on mass protests.
“As for our servicemen, they are staying in their territory. Your army which is carrying out mobilization is also doing it in its territory. The only difference is that our troops do not fight against their own people while yours have been, in fact, been mobilized by an illegal order to crack down on mass protests,” Lavrov told a Ukrainian journalist who had asked the minister about alleged concentration of Russian troops on the border with Ukraine.
“As for Crimea, it no longer has any bearing on this matter. The people of Crimea made their choice and we recognized it. We are not building up our armed forces there. We have a base (in Crimea) where servicemen and sailors do their regular service. Their strength does not exceed the numbers required to ensure the base’s normal functioning,” Lavrov said.
He explained that reports on increasing troop numbers could be linked to the fact that most servicemen of the Ukrainian Black Sea fleet chose to acquire Russian citizenship.
“I assure you: there are no and will not be any extra troops in Crimea or in the territory of any other region in Russia if that contradicts its international commitments,” Lavrov said.
Meanwhile, the minister denied allegations that Russian troops, agents and infiltrators were operating in Ukraine..............http://en.itar-tass.com/russia/728573
17/4/14
Geneva Statement on Ukraine, Media Note, Office of the Spokesperson
ReplyDeleteWashington, DC
April 17, 2014
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The following Joint Statement was released by the United States, the European Union, Ukraine, and Russia.
Begin Text:
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 protestors 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 U.S., 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.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2014/04/224957.htm
17/4/14