JOINT STATEMENT OF CHAIRPERSONS
OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE, THE SEIMAS OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA
AND THE SENATE OF THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND
Kyiv, March 17, 2014
We, Chairpersons of Parliaments of Ukraine, Lithuania and Poland,
expressing strong support to sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, acknowledging legitimacy of present Ukrainian Government,
condemn acts of aggression of Russian armed forces and de facto occupation of Ukraine’s territory. These actions are a violation of the UN Charter and the OSCE Helsinki Final Act, as well as Russia’s obligations to respect sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine stipulated by the Budapest Memorandum of 1994 and the bilateral Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership of 1997. We think that this is the most serious challenge for global security since the Cold War.
We call the Russian Federation to immediately withdraw its troops to places of their permanent dislocation, start direct consultations with Ukrainian Government and embrace proposals on international mediation and observance. We also call the Russian Federation to stop spreading propaganda that is stirring up hostility, and false information about its neighbours. Historic experience of occupation and annexion of 1939-1940 testifies that aggressive actions should have adequate consequences for those who commits them and obliges us to use all possible tools to prevent repetition of history. We support targeted measures against responsible for violation of Ukrainian territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as against persons whose activity destabilizes situation in Ukraine and threatens human rights.
We welcome efforts of the Government of Ukraine to stabilize the situation. We deem that the decision of the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea to hold the so-called referendum on March 16, 2014 on the future status of this territory violates the Constitution of Ukraine and, thus, is illegal. We assess the independence declaration, adopted by the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea of March 11, 2014, as the one that contradicts efforts taken to deescalate the situation.
We strongly believe that the
Association Agreement, including deep and comprehensive free trade zone between
the European Union and Ukraine,
is an important step in deepening relations and opening the EU integration
prospects for Ukraine
and call on its signing at the earliest opportunity. We are ready to
provide the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
with every support in its further Euro-integrational moves and call on to
reform the self-government of Ukraine;
harmonize Ukrainian legislation with the EU legal system; adopt legislation on
introduction of visa free regime with the EU; and initiate the required
economic reforms without delay.
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Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov |
Chairperson of the Seimas of the Lithuanian Republic Loreta Grauziniene |
Marshal of the Senate of the Republic of Poland Bogdan Borusewicz |