Brussels, 20/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - On 20 January, some European foreign affairs ministers threatened Ukraine with sanctions, criticising the violence between protesters and the police on 19 January. “The use of violence will have consequences and we can't rule out sanctions” warned Lithuania's Minister for Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevicius. Although sanctions are not currently planned, “this doesn't mean that they won't be on the programme in the future” if the situation continues, he added. “There must be reaction against the package adopted. These are the most repressive laws taken by a European parliament for decades”, said Sweden's Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt. He added that the events of 19 January are a result of this adopted legislation. “The EU must begin to look at effective instruments for fighting against the corrupt actors manoeuvring also in the dark corners of the politics of Ukraine”, he continued.
In the conclusions, which were not initially planned, the EU foreign affairs ministers express their “deep concern” at the legislation adopted on 16 January “under doubtful procedural circumstances” (see EUROPE 10999), and call on the authorities to ensure that these developments be reversed and that the legislation be brought into line with Ukraine's international and European commitments. “These legislative acts would significantly restrict the Ukrainian citizens' fundamental rights of association, media and the press, and seriously curtail the activities of civil society organisations”, they state. In the view of the UK's Foreign Secretary William Hague, it is “a mistake” to have introduced restrictions to the freedom to protest.
Very concerned by the recent developments, the EU foreign affairs ministers call on all the actors to exercise restraint, and the ministers call on the authorities to fully respect and protect the peaceful demonstrators' right to assembly and speech, and the freedom of the press. “All acts of violence must be duly investigated and those responsible brought to justice”, they state. The EU urges all actors to seek, through an inclusive dialogue, a democratic solution to the current political crisis.
Bildt welcomed the announcement of discussions between the government and the opposition to resolve this political crisis, adding that a solution is “only possible” if there is no repression from the regime. An open democracy and reconciliation are the only way to move forward, he says on Twitter. Hague said that he welcomed the discussions between the parties but “I absolutely deplore the violence that occurred” during the night of 19-20 January. He called for restraint, saying that violence is not a solution. (CG/transl.fl)