The EU’s decision regarding Ukraine sends a clear political signal
21 February 2014 News
The EU has a unified stance on the situation in Ukraine. We reiterated our commitment and readiness toassist with all that is needed in orderto find a solution to the crisis. We expressed our condolences to the familiesof the victims and we hope that the bloodshed will stop immediately, saidKristian Vigenin in the BNT morning program, after returning from yesterday’s extraordinary EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting on Ukraine.
According to the Foreign Minister, yesterday's decision to impose targeted sanctions sends a clear political signal. The agreed sanctions would not have a direct effect in this situation, but there is a strong political impact. The sanctions will target those responsible for the use of excessive force, he said. Kristian Vigenin reiterated that the primary responsibility for the situation rests with those in power, but the leaders of the radical groups are also partly responsible for the violence.
And with my involvement, we agreed that the scope of the sanctions will be adjusted according to the developments in Ukraine. We started with a relatively limited list, which can be extended also to the political level. We did not want to create conditions for blocking the political process, Minister Vigenin added.
The steps that the EU sees for exiting the current crisis include the formation of a new inclusive government, progress on constitutional reform- limiting the powers of the head of state, strengthening the role of theparliament and the government, and preparing for presidential elections to be held in the autumn of this year.
"The big question is about confidence - whether such steps that are delayed, will be supported by the Ukrainian citizens who want change now. Whether this will easethe tensions,"said the Foreign Minister. According to him, if such political agreement is reached, the radical elements will not be able to continue their activities andthiscan contribute to ease of thetensions.
Minister Vigenin gave a positive assessment of the last night’s resolution of the Verkhovna Rada to withdraw the security forces, but emphasized that while there is no general political solution, the risk of escalation remains. The situation is really chaotic. There are cities in which the state virtually has no control, he said.
Kristian Vigenin recalled that he was one of the first foreign ministers who claimed already in the summer that a European perspective should be offered to Ukraine. He described as a positive signal the Council’s statement that the signing of the Association Agreement does not constitute the final goal in EU-Ukraine relations. I believe it's an opening, which can be realized so that Ukraine can get a real EU membership perspective one day, he said.
The fact that the EU has recognized the need to work more actively with Russia with regard to the policy towards the Eastern Partnership countries is also important, said Minister Vigenin. Currently, the primary responsibility of the neighbors of Ukraine - the EU and Russia, is to prevent the disintegration of the state and then to enable the Ukrainian people to decide their future through elections, he said.