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| Massive anti-government and pro-European protests in Kyiv (Image: Новая Газета) |
Special negotiations’ group of European Parliament has arrived on
Saturday, 7 December, in Ukrainian capital Kyiv in order to study the situation
in the country and to mediate in the talks between government and opposition
and to help to find the solution of the deepening crisis. The group is
represented by the members of European People’s Party of European Parliament
and consisted of ex-President of European Parliament Jerzy Buzek, Head of
European Parliament’s Committee for Foreign Affairs Elmar Brock, Vice-President
of the Party Jacek Sariusz-Wolski and Coordinator of EPP’s international
policies Jose Ignasio Salafranca.
“We came to support people on Maidan”, stated parliamentarians.
Jacek Sariusz-Wolski declared that Europe
is ready to support Ukraine in its aspirations and fight for democratic society
and better future, and the doors of EU are always open for Ukrainians. He also
stated that EU politicians believe that Ukrainians should be the part of
Europe, and the group arrived in Kyiv to support the people and to help the
opposition and the government to sit at the table and to negotiate current
situation in order to find the common solution which will benefit the country
and its people.
Mr. Sariusz-Wolski also declared that
European Parliament and its representatives strongly condemn violence and use
of force against the peaceful demonstrators happened on 29-30 November and on 1
December at the President’s office.
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| Jacek Sariusz-Wolski, Vice-President of EPP (Image: European Voice) |
“We call on the authorities to investigate
this case and to release the detained people who aren’t guilty. We ask the both
sides to find the way out of the conflict in a peaceful way. We also support
the will of people regarding early elections. And we call on Russia to stop its
pressure on Ukraine”, said European parliamentarian.
In addition to that, representatives of the
EPP delegation to Ukraine stated that if the current government will sign
Association Agreement with EU, European Parliament will make everything
possible for its fastest implementation.
Mr. Jose Ignasio Salafranca, Coordinator of
EPP’s international policies, announced during the press-conference held at the
House of Trade Unions, where the main resistance headquarters are located, that
in European Parliament will study the situation in Ukraine and issue its
resolution regarding Ukraine in one week. He also stressed that European
politicians and MPs of European Parliament express their solidarity with
Ukrainian citizens who demonstrate in the country.
Members of the EPP group have visited
injured protesters at the hospitals of Kyiv. They also had the meeting with the
leaders of Ukrainian opposition Arseny Yatsenyuk, Oleg Tyagnybok and Vitaly
Klichko. The group is also planning to meet the representatives of the
government as well.
Elmar Brock, Head of European Parliament’s
Committee for Foreign Affairs, declared during the press-conference, that
negotiations and national dialogue are necessary on the current stage in order
to resolve the crisis. “We believe that President Victor Yanukovich can gather
the sides for negotiations and unite the country. Government should listen to
the voice of its citizens”, added Mr. Brock.
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| Elmar Brock, Head of European Parliament's Committee for Foreign Affairs (Image: Neue Westfälische) |
Elmar Brock also stressed that European
Parliament also hopes that all the people detained for inciting violence and
being in fact not guilty will be released, and that the issue of political
detainees will also be resolved, referring also to the case of ex-Prime
Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, currently imprisoned.
In addition to that Elmar Brock has declared
that if President Victor Yanukovich will not be able to find and punish all the
persons responsible for the violent dispersal of the peaceful protests and
sit-in on the Independence Square and beating people and journalists near
President’s office, EU will impose personal sanctions for some Ukrainian
officials responsible for these events. “Aggression should be punished. If all
the persons and officials responsible for the dispersal and beating and giving
such orders won’t be punished by the government, they won’t be able to enter EU
anymore”, said Mr. Brock.
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