Brussels, 17/09/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 17 September, Maja Kocijancic, the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, hailed the adoption of two laws by the Ukrainian Parliament the previous day - laws focusing on a special status for certain districts in the regions of Lugansk and Donetsk, and on a conditional amnesty for participants in the events in Donetsk and Lugansk (see EUROPE 11156). “Ukraine has fulfilled the commitments taken with the Minsk agreement” that established the ceasefire and peace agreement, said Kocijancic. She said in a press conference that these were important steps in the search for a sustainable political solution.
“We hope that this development, together with the continuing release of hostages and observance of the ceasefire (so far precarious) will contribute to a sustainable political solution, based on respect for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity”, Kocijancic then stated in a press release. She again called on the two parties to respect the ceasefire and condemned the shelling that has reportedly taken place in Donetsk.
Kocijancic also said there are expectations that the Russians and separatists will reciprocate “soon by implementing the pending points of the 12-point Minsk agreement - in particular withdrawal of illegal armed groups, military equipment and fighters and mercenaries from Ukraine, as well as viable control of the Russian-Ukrainian border, to be monitored by the OSCE”. (CG)