Brussels, 24/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - While Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle is in Ukraine on 24 January to meet its President Viktor Yanukovych, government representatives, leaders of the opposition and members of civil society, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton confirmed on 23 January that she would also visit Kiev - on 29-30 January. “I will be going to Kiev myself next week to meet with President Yanukovych as well as opposition leaders”, Ashton announced in a press release, stating that a delegation of the European Parliament will be in Ukraine on 28-30 January. “In light of the violent escalation of events, the European Union has to reinforce the efforts in support of the political solution to the current crisis. In this respect all diplomatic means have been engaged”, she said, mentioning the visits. “It is imperative to avoid further worsening of the situation and to pave the way for a genuine dialogue between the authorities, the opposition and civil society. Only an inclusive dialogue offers a viable way forward. The doors to dialogue and a political solution have to be kept open”, she added.
Leader of the European Parliament's S&D Group Hannes Swoboda (Austria) stated that “if the talks between Füle and Yanukovych don't produce an agreement which guarantees the right of assembly and a roadmap to get out of this stalemate, the only way to get out is early elections in Ukraine”.
Ukraine's Prime Minister Mykola Azarov believed that “European politicians could give Ukraine real help in normalising the situation”. “It would be enough if Barroso, Ashton, Füle and other European politicians were to address the Ukrainian opposition and state that seizing the offices of state institutions is illegal and goes against democracy”
Shortly after meeting Füle, Yanukovych announced a ministerial reshuffle, during an extraordinary session of the Ukrainian Parliament that was planned for the week of 27 January - and he also announced an amendment to the new laws on protest. While he confirmed that he was going to release the campaigners who were under arrest, Yanukovych warned that he would use “all the legal means” at his disposal if he does not find a solution to the crisis with the opposition. He also appointed Andrii Kliouniev as head of the presidential administration. Kliouniev is considered to be a hardliner and protest-hater.
Numerous calls for dialogue and ambassadors summoned. Several heads of state and ministers have called for dialogue and an end to the violence. “I call on the Ukrainian authorities to return to the path of dialogue and calm without delay”, said France's President François Hollande, underlining that “a big country like Ukraine, which aspires to take its place on the European and international stage, must put an end to such actions” of violence against the peaceful demonstrators. He reiterated that the EU “remains fully ready to sign the association agreement”. France, like Germany and Ireland, has summoned the Ukrainian ambassador.
Ireland's Minister for European Affairs Pascal Donohoe stated that “democratic dialogue is needed to resolve the current stalemate”. “My hope is that a resolution to this stalemate might be found as soon as possible”, he added. In the view of the foreign affairs ministers of the Czech Republic - Jan Kohout, Hungary - Janos Maronyi, Poland - Radoslaw Sikorski, and Slovakia - Miroslav Lajcak, a “constructive and credible” dialogue “is the only way of finding an acceptable solution for the whole of the Ukrainian nation”. Violence has never contributed to resolving political crises and can only make the “already complicated and dangerous” situation worse, they added (our translation). (CG/transl.fl)