Ukraine parliament passes law to form army
Iran Press TV
Thu Mar 13, 2014 3:17PM GMT
The pro-Western parliament in Ukraine has adopted a legislation under which the country would create a 60,000-strong National Guard in an attempt to boost the country's defenses.
The vote comes three days before a referendum in Ukraine's autonomous Crimea region on whether residents prefer to join Russia or remain as part of Ukraine's territory under a new pro-Western government.
The self-declared government of Ukraine has decided to form the new National Guard by recruiting some activists who were involved in recent pro-Western protests, which led to the ouster of former president, Viktor Yanukovych.
Ukraine's national security chief, Andriy Parubiy, said the Guard would be deployed to 'ensure state security, defend the borders, and eliminate terrorist groups.'
Tensions have been running high in Ukraine since Yanukovych left the country on February 22 following violent clashes between police and pro-Europe protesters in Kiev, which were fueled by messages of support from the US and certain EU governments.
The Ukrainian parliament has also appealed to the United Nations to discuss the presence of pro-Russian forces in Crimea.
Pro-Russia forces have tightened their grip on Ukraine's Crimea region, taking over Simferopol's train station, airport and arteries.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Paralympic delegates in the Black Sea port of Sochi on Thursday that 'Russia was not the initiator of the circumstances that have taken shape' in the region.
MOL/AB/SS
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