Lavrov criticizes Kiev's demands regarding south-eastern self-defense forces
8 July 2014, 22:03 -- Russian Foreign Minister on Tuesday criticized Kiev's demands that militiamen in Ukraine's south-eastern regions capitulate. 'We see everything thanks to correspondents who work risking their lives, and (we see) how solemn words of (Ukrainian) President Poroshenko that the Ukrainian army was ordered not to shell cities, settlements and residential quarters, not to bomb civilians, reflect reality,' Russian diplomat Sergei Lavrov said. 'What is happening is totally different,' he said.
'We see killed people, deformed bodies, destroyed apartments, houses. This is dismal.' 'Statements from the Ukrainian authorities that truce is only possible if militiamen accept the peace plan, that is, capitulate, and hope to be pardoned, discourage us and remove any opportunities for reaching the truce,' he said.
Ukraine agreed In line with a four-party agreement to an unconditional ceasefire, Lavrov said Tuesday after a meeting with Slovenian President Borut Pahor and Foreign Minister Karl Erjavec. 'The four-party statement of the foreign ministers of the Russian Federation, France, Germany and Ukraine (of July 2) clearly calls for an immediate, unconditional, bilateral ceasefire,' Lavrov said.
'That is what Ukraine signed.' 'There are no conditions like militia's capitulation. Ukraine agreed to an unconditional ceasefire,' he noted. 'We need to throw aside everything to immediately stop the use of force,' Lavrov emphasized. 'We are convinced Slovenia understands our position and the fact that ceasefire is a priority task.'
The example of Crimea - a region that did not recognize the authorities imposed during a coup in Ukraine in February and seceded from the country to join Russia in March - apparently inspired residents of Ukraine's south-east who supported the country's federalization. The residents started massive protests and formed militias.
Since mid-April, Kiev has been conducting a military operation against federalization supporters in Ukraine's war-torn south-eastern regions, which involves armored vehicles, heavy artillery and attack aviation, reports Itar-Tass.
Russian FM appeals for early calling of Ukraine contact group
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, during a conversation with the foreign ministers of Germany and France, stressed the necessity to prevent the breach of arrangements for the contact group on Ukraine to be called early, reported RIA Novosti on Sunday night on the Russian Foreign Ministry's Facebook page.
Telephone talks between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius took place on July 5.
'During the discussions, the Russian side pointed out the necessity to avoid breaching arrangements, concerning the Berlin meeting of the foreign ministers of Russia, Germany, France and Ukraine of July, 2 for the early convocation of a contact group, aimed at agreeing a termless, sustainable ceasefire between Kiev and South-East Ukraine ' the Foreign Ministry said.
'This task was emphasized as even more urgent, considering the rapid deterioration of the situation in Ukraine after the build-up of military operations by Ukrainian forces, proliferating civilian casualties and destruction of civilian infrastructure. The fact that the fighting is accompanied by the shelling of Russian territory provokes deep concern and makes obstacles for refugees seeking to leave the conflict zone,' said Foreign Ministry.
'Steinmeier and Fabius agreed that the contact group should urgently resume its work, and expressed their readiness to use their capabilities to assist the definition of a generally acceptable location of the meeting between the representatives of Ukrainian authorities and self-defense leaders, mediated by Russia and the OSCE,' - said in a statement.
Earlier, Steinmeier called for implementing the agreements on the truce in Ukraine. 'One cannot waste time,' he said. President Vladimir Putin said it was important to fulfil the statement's provision on the need for a long-term ceasefire contained in the statement and on holding a next meeting of Contact Group on Ukraine no later than on July 5.
On July 2, the Russian, German, French and Ukrainian foreign ministers agreed a declaration on the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine's southeast. The declaration calls for establishing lasting truce in Ukraine and convening the Contact Group for Ukraine as soon as possible.
After the quadripartite talks Steinmeier said, 'I understood that all participants realised what responsibility we all carry to prevent of a greater danger in Ukraine.' 'I think we will be able to use joint efforts to move aside from the escalation of the conflict that has taken place in the past days,' he said.
In the telephone talk with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande on June 26, Russian
Since mid-April, Kiev has been conducting a military operation against federalization supporters and militias in Ukraine's war-torn Southeast, which involves armored vehicles, heavy artillery and attack aviation and has resulted in hundreds of deaths, destruction of buildings and forced tens of thousands to flee Ukraine to Russia.
Fierce military attacks of the pro-Kiev forces on the country's southeastern regions resumed after President Petro Poroshenko, who had been elected in late May and taken office on June 7, decided to end the 10-day ceasefire in the Southeast on Monday. When the truce was in place, there were reports that it was repeatedly violated by Kiev, Itar-Tass reports.
Also Steinmeier has called for implementing the agreements on truce in Ukraine. 'The Contact Group meeting is the key element for ensuring further progress,' he said.
On July 2, the Russian, German, French and Ukrainian foreign ministers agreed on a declaration on the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine's south-east. The declaration calls for establishing lasting truce in Ukraine and convening the Contact Group for Ukraine as soon as possible. After the four-party talks Steinmeier said, 'I understood that all participants realized what responsibility we all carry to prevent a greater danger in Ukraine.'
'I think we will be able to use joint efforts to move aside from the escalation of the conflict that has taken place in the past days,' he said.
Artificial impediments to South Stream project must be removed - Lavrov
Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, says the South Stream project must be implemented in conformity with earlier intergovernmental agreements. 'We are convinced that all artificial barriers hampering the implementation of the South Stream project should be removed, while the intergovernmental agreements signed must be abided by,' the minister stated firmly at a press conference in Slovenia.The European Commission will hopefully re-launch the contact group's work which had been in charge of these issues, Lavrov added.
Moscow believes that everyone with whom the agreement on the South Stream construction was reached will continue to participate in the project, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said following high-level talks in Slovenia.
'We are interested in everyone, who signed up for the South Stream through inter-governmental agreements, continuing to participate. We are convinced that attempts to retrospectively apply a third energy package are not in line with the standards of international law,' Lavrov said, adding that it was 'unfair and contradicts all international law standards,' the minister said.
Situation in Ukraine
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has urged his colleagues to stop conducting the 'black lists' policy against Russia and advised his European counterparts to follow the implementation of agreements on ceasefire in Ukraine.
'Frankly speaking I stopped following what agreement are being taken in the European Union, what terms are set for the consideration of yet other black, grey or any other color lists. We are interested in the need to urgently stop bloodshed,' Lavrov told a news conference in Slovenia on Tuesday.
Moscow insists on the immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said. 'At the request of the [Slovenian] president we in detail presented the reasons for the genesis of this conflict. One should throw away everything so that to immediately stop the use of force. We are certain that Slovenia understands our position and the priority of ceasing fire,' Lavrov told journalists after a meeting of Slovenian President Borut Pahor on Tuesday.
Russian FM Lavrov to pay working visit to Slovenia
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is to visit Slovenia for a working visit on 8 July. Implementation of the South Stream project is expected to be one of the main subjects to be discussed during the visit. In the run-up to the talks in Slovenia, the Information and Press Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry pointed out the need for Russian investments in that country.
'The implementation of the South Stream project on the Slovenian territory is also meant to expand the volume of mutual investments,' the Russian Foreign Ministry says.
'Moscow and Ljubljana have a common goal to find solutions allowing the participants in the South Stream project to fulfill their obligations in intergovernmental agreements without violating the EU legal standards and guidelines in the energy field,' the Russian Foreign Ministry points out.
Moscow lays special emphasis on 'the expansion of Russian investments in Slovenia, in particular due to state property privatization currently being carried out there.'
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
