MFAL: Lithuanian specialist will help Ukraine to implement reforms
Petro Poroshenko and Linas Linkevicius. Kyiv, 25.08.2014. Photo: urm.lt
Normal
0
false
false
false
MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
In the meeting the president of
Ukraine assured that the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement would be ratified in
September.
“There were various signals
that it was stalling, but we were assured that everything is going strictly in
accordance with the schedule. The president is sure that the Association
Agreement with the EU will be ratified in September by the Rada of old
composition. As you know it was announced that the Rada was being dismissed and
new elections were announced for October, but until that time the old Rada will
continue working,” Linkevicius explained.
The head of Lithuania’s diplomacy
hopes that parliamentary election will run smoothly and peacefully.
“Hopefully the security
situation will somewhat improve before that, although we have seen no
indications suggesting this yet, even before today’s meeting in Minsk,”
said Linkevicius.
The foreign minister noted that
“it is difficult to expect a breakthrough” during Tuesday’s
multilateral meeting in Minsk, which will be attended by leaders of Ukraine,
Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and the European Union, as “the background is
very unfavourable”.
“It is especially worrying
that on the eve of the meeting the situation exacerbated – 30 armoured vehicles
and tanks crossed the border, and 10 paratroopers were detained in the
territory of Ukraine. When civilian cargo vehicles cross the border it can be
regarded as a grave violation of international law, () but when open military
invasion is taking place, these are signs of aggression,” said Linkevicius.
Nonetheless the head of Lithuania’s
diplomacy hopes that discussions among the leaders will help find leverage to
stop the armed conflict.
“Supply of terrorist groups
should be stopped by the Russian side, otherwise it is difficult to expect for
a solution of the conflict,” said Linkevicius.
After German Chancellor Angela Merkel stated earlier that she
does not wish to undertake actions that would harm Russia, the Lithuanian
foreign minister said that it is important not to harm Ukraine either, as
economic and military powers are unequal.
“(). After all it is a test of
our values and trustworthiness, a test of partnership with the EU and Western
states, whether a country can choose its own path independently or someone has
the right for a veto,” said Minister Linkevicius.
According to Linkevicius, the
decision has to be found “not at the expense of some of the
partners”. Poroshenko has said that it can be negotiated and sought for
compromises but not at the expense of sovereignty, territorial integrity and
independence.
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:”Times New Roman”;
mso-ansi-language:
mso-fareast-language:
mso-bidi-language:}