Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Koshulynskyi met with the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Simonovic on Thursday.
Ruslan Koshulynskyi informed Ivan Simonovic about recent developments in Ukraine and focused attention on the “lack of a qualitative guarantee” on the part of the countries that have signed the Memorandum on Security Assurances in connection with Ukraine's accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. “The UN stand is extremely important and further development of international security will depend on it,” he stressed.
Deputy Chairman of the Parliament stressed also that “Ukraine will support the stand that would help reach understanding in a diplomatic and nonviolent manner and commit the Russian Federation to seize Crimean annexation.”
In the course of discussion, the Parties concluded that their stands regarding the causes of a political confrontation in Ukraine fully coincide. In particular, Ivan Simonovic noted that these problems existed before the moment of uprising of Ukrainian people. “This is due to lack of accountability of internal affairs bodies; politicized system of the prosecutor’s office; lack of independency of a judges body; and a deeply spread corruption,” he said.
Secretary-General Assistant added that all this has negatively affected socio-economic sphere of society. “These deep violations have led to country’s uprising,” said Ivan Simonovic.
Apart from this, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights stressed “excessive use of force against peaceful demonstrators.” He stood for efficient investigation “of the so called “sniper case”. “The excessive number of deceased requires investigation,” he said, and added that “it is extremely important that investigation of this case was brought to an end.”
The Parties have also discussed the issue of human rights observation in Ukraine, particularly, in the part of the status of minority languages.
Commenting on the issue of minority languages, Ruslan Koshulynskyi noted that the Temporary Special Commission of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on elaboration of the draft law on development and use of languages in Ukraine was established at the initiative of the Parliament. He believes that the Commission consisting of representatives of all parliamentary factions, experts and scientists from across Ukraine, including form the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, will consider interests of national minorities in regard to languages they use.
Deputy Chairman of the Parliament expressed hope that the Ukrainian Party will adjust the required document until the end of this month. Opinion of the Venice Commission will be the next step.
The UN Secretary-General Assistant believes that it is extremely important to make this process an inclusive one, so that “the national minorities were provided with the possibility to participate in broad discussion of this issue.” “If this process is inclusive, it will alleviate tension in the society,” he stressed.
In regard to the lustration issue, Ruslan Koshulynskyi noted that similar procedure in the countries like Poland and the Czech Republic gave an impetus for the development of these countries. Thereat, he stressed that “each person has the right to be heard.” “There should be no illegal measures taken in regard to any group of people,” stressed the Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada.
Ivan Simonovic wished Ukrainians to overcome challenges the country faces and stressed that the UN will support Ukraine in every possible way.
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