2014-03-06 18:51:57

Ukraine's PM condemns Crimean leaders for joining Russia


(Vatican Radio)-- Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has condemned a vote by Crimea's parliament to join Russia and to hold a referendum on the issue this month.

Speaking in Brussels, Yatsenyuk also warned his nation will defend itself if Russia's military intervention escalates amid concerns over thousands of pro-Russian forces on Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula.


Listen to the report by Stefan Bos... RealAudioMP3


Crimean legislators asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to “start the procedure” of allowing the region to be “reunited with its motherland.” Additionally they agreed to hold a referendum on the status of the Crimean Peninsula in 10 days time, explained legislator Sergey Shuvalnikov.


"People will be asked whether they vote for the reunion of Crimea with the Russian Federation, as a subject of the Russian federation. Secondly they will be asked whether they vote for the 1992 constitutional restoration, and for Crimea to be part of Ukraine,?" he explained.

It remained unclear why the referendum was still needed as Crimea's Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Temirgaliev said a decree making Crimea part of Russia was already in force. He also warned Ukrainian troops in the Russian-controlled territory that they would be treated as occupiers and forced to surrender or leave.


Ukrainian Prime Minister Yatsenyuk is furious and said the Ukrainian outgunned and outnumbered army is prepared to defend the former Soviet nation.


"ILLEGITIMATE DECISION"

"This is an illegitimate decision and this so-called referendum has no legal grounds at all,” he said. "That's the reason why we urge the Russian government not to support those who claim separatism in Ukraine." He warned, "Crimea was, is, and will be an integral part of Ukraine."


And, referring to the dismantled Berlin Wall, he also urged President Putin to "tear down" what he called the "wall of intimidation and military aggression".


Yatsenyuk said he was concerned that Russian military movements in Crimea would eventually spread and go as far as the borders of the European Union.


The prime minister also reminded the international community that Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons in 1994 in exchange for security guarantees under what is known as the Budapest Memorandum.


"It would be quit difficult to convince Iran or North Korea to abandon their nuclear weapons in case if those who guaranteed our independence do not succeed in providing and delivering these guarantees," he stressed.


EMERGENCY SUMMIT


He spoke at the emergency summit of European Union leaders where Romania's President Traian Basescu proposed to mediate between Russia and Ukraine.


Greece’s Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said the crisis was a crucial test for Europe in the 21st century. "We have a crisis to diffuse and Europe must prove its moderating role,” Samaras explained.


Though differences remain over how to tackle the crisis, German chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed EU plans to offer Ukraine 11 billion euro ($15 billion) in economic assistance.


Additionally the EU announced an assets freeze covering the ousted Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych and his son as well as the former Prime Minister Mikola Azarov and his son and some 14 other officials.


They are held responsible for embezzling billions of dollars in state funds.











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