LEAD: Little appetite for Ukraine sanctions at EU ministers’ meeting By Helen …

Brussels (dpa) – European Union foreign ministers on Monday expressed
scepticism about the use of sanctions against Ukraine, with the
comments coming at a meeting also set to focus on EU troop deployment
to the Central African Republic and closer ties with Cuba.

The EU has increased its diplomatic interaction with Kyiv amid mass
protests that followed Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych‘s
November decision to back away from an association deal with the bloc
in favour closer ties with Russia.

Last month, Washington raised the possibility of imposing sanctions
in response to the political violence in Ukraine. But such measures,
which could include travel bans or asset freezes, are unpopular among
EU member states, who are focusing instead on political dialogue.

Sanctions are “not on the agenda at present” a spokesman for German
Chancellor Angela Merkel said in Berlin on Monday – while her foreign
minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, spoke in Brussels of a
disappointing lack of political progress in Ukraine.

“The demonstrations at the weekend have shown that the people in
Ukraine will not be satisfied with bad compromises,” Steinmeier said,
urging the parties to talk “seriously” about constitutional change.

“Playing for time, as Yanukovych is trying at present, is no
perspective for a peaceful political solution,” the German minister
added ahead of the meeting with his 27 EU counterparts.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague meanwhile urged “all parties
to defuse tensions,” and called on the government to “respect
fundamental political rights and ensure freedoms of the opposition
and of the media are protected.”

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius, meanwhile, who has
spoken in favour of sanctions against Ukraine in the past, said that
the EU should consider how to proceed if the situation there
worsened.

“If something (goes) wrong we should be ready to react and to tell
those who are responsible that … there are limits and that (there)
should be some consequences,” Linkevicius said.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton visited Kyiv last week for
talks with Yanukovych and opposition leaders. She offered help with
political reforms, while demanding that the perpetrators of violence
be brought to justice.

Ashton also stressed the importance of providing financial assistance
to Ukraine‘s flagging economy under the right conditions. She said in
an interview last week that Brussels and Washington are working on
such a plan, although details remain unclear.

“We stand ready to support the process of dialogue, which is so
important to try and end the situation there, and we stand ready too
– within the reforms that need to be made – with our economic
support,” the EU‘s top diplomat said Monday.

The ministers also moved a step closer to deploying EU troops to the
Central African Republic, where a bloody conflict between Christians
and Muslims has claimed thousands of lives and displaced 1 million
people in the last 13 months.

The six-month operation will cost an estimated 25.9 million euros
(35.3 million dollars), ministers said in a joint statement.

French Major-General Philippe Ponties was appointed to head the
mission, expected to comprise around 500 troops tasked with assisting
African Union peacekeepers.

“The absolute priority is to protect the civilian population from any
further violence, to ensure that the people of the Central African
Republic can live without fear and start rebuilding their country,
and to make sure that humanitarian aid can be provided,” Ashton said.

The launch of the mission requires separate approval. Troops could
arrive in Bangui by late February or early March, according to
EU sources.

The ministers also gave the go-ahead for a diplomatic shift in
relations with Cuba, a communist state which has embarked on gradual
reforms since President Raul Castro took over from his brother Fidel
in 2008.

The EU is now waiting for Cuba to agree to negotiations on a new
agreement with the bloc. Ashton insisted that the EU‘s basic approach
to the island wouldn‘t change, especially when it comes to human
rights.

dpa NOTEBOOK

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