Ukraine: NATO ministers condemn excessive force against protestors
(Vatican Radio) The foreign ministers of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization have
condemned the use of what they call "excessive force" against pro-European protesters
in Ukraine, amid escalating tensions in the former Soviet nation. Speaking after
talks of the NATO military alliance in Brussels, Belgium, U.S. Secretary of State
John Kerry urged Ukraine's leadership to listen to what he called "the voices of its
people".
"The powerful expressions of support for Europe in cities all across
Ukraine have really been quite extraordinary," he said. "People of all different
backgrounds are giving voice to their very real and very deep aspirations,"Kerry
added. "And we urge the Ukrainian government to listen to the voices of its people
who want to live in freedom and in opportunity and prosperity. And we urge all sides
to conduct themselves peacefully. Violence has no place in a modern European state,"
the secretary explained.
He spoke while thousands of pro-EU demonstrators
defied riot police in Ukraine's capital Kyiv. Listen to this report from Stefan
Bos:
Waving flags
and shouting slogans, they condemned the government's decision not to sign the
European Union Association Agreement. The accord is seen as key to Ukraine's European
integration, waving flags. Protesters urged the Cabinet to resign and call for
early elections. Their demonstrations came while in the nearby parliament building,
the opposition failed in their attempt to out the government through a no-confidence
motion.
Speaking during a rowdy parliamentary session, Prime Minister Mykola
Azarov apologized for the use of police force against protesters, in which dozens
were injured in recent days.
But the government leader also defended Ukraine's
decision to suspend talks with the EU. “We had a strong recession, it was a very
important factor that economists understand," Azarov said. "We faced it as we could,
in very poor conditions, with very high natural gas prices. Secondly, we’ve lost out
a lot in trade, especially with Russia,” he told parliament, amid loud chants of “resign”
from opposition legislators.
The opposition has vowed more protests.
Yet,
for now, the government has made clear it will first listen to the wishes of powerful
neighbour Russia, which opposes Ukraine's closer ties with the EU.