U.S., UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa Maidan Community Sector, Lviv: Dear friends, it has been three months since the confrontation of the President Viktor Yanukovych with the people of Ukraine began. Yesterday the conflict took on a threatening form. Current situation may result in a civil war. Thus we take it upon ourselves to inform you about the events in Ukraine. We will provide you with yet another viewpoint regarding this conflict. We will do our best to remain fair and objective. Maidan Community Sector, Lviv February 27 – The Ukrainian Parliament (Verkhovna Rada) appointed a new government. February 27 – Russia and pro-Russian forces in Crimea continue their gradual occupation of Crimea. The Ukrainian government has lost any actual control over Crimea. February 27 – armed unidentified men set up a control point at the Isthmus of Perekop. February 27 – under gun-point from identified gun-men carrying automatic rifles, some of the Crimean Parliament Members dissolved the Crimean Cabinet of Ministers, elected mafia boss SerhiyAksonov as the new prime minister of Crimea, and announced a referendum on the status of Crimea in violation of Ukrainian law. Aksonov represents the Crimean civic and political movement Russian Unity (RusskoeYedinstvo) . February 28 – armoured vehicles from the Russian Black Sea Fleet surrounded the Belbek airport in Sevastopol where the Ukrainian air force is based. February 28 – 150 unidentified troops took over the airport in Simferopol. February 28 – Head of the Interior Minister ArsenAvakov is calling the Russian troops blocking of Ukrainian airports an armed invasion and occupation. February 28 – Ukrainians in Crimea are calling on the Ukrainian Government for protection from the unidentified gunmen. February 28 – Joint declaration by the Foreign Ministers of Poland, Germany and France on the situation in Ukraine: We take note of the formation of a transitional government in Ukraine supported by a broad majority of votes in the Ukrainian parliament. This transitional government will have to face immense challenges in order to improve the standards of living of the citizens of Ukraine which can be only achieved through the implementation of the transition and modernization reforms, including fight with corruption, and respect for democratic values. We are ready to support Ukraine in these efforts. We remain convinced that political stability and reforms in Ukraine require a broad consensus supported by all relevant stakeholders without exception. In particular, a lasting accommodation of the existing diversity in Ukrainian society necessitates reaching out to Eastern and Southern regions and engaging with all legitimate interests, including minority rights especially regarding language issues. The situation facing Ukraine can only be addressed in a sustainable fashion, if all major political forces unite and pursue a common agenda. We are deeply concerned with the tensions in Crimea. Everything must be done to decrease the tension in the eastern region and promote peaceful discussions among relevant parties. We restate our support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. We appeal to all parties in Ukraine to refrain from actions that could challenge this. Laurent Fabius, Foreign Minister of the French Republic Radosław Sikorski, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Poland Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany Maidan Community Sector, Lviv P.S. Please spread this appeal as much as possible.
Posted on: Fri, 28 Feb 2014 20:38:49 +0000
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