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| Round table of government, opposition and civil society in Ukraine (Image: Mustafa Nayem) |
Round table, organized by Ukrainian current President Victor Yanukovich
after calls of Ukrainian society and international politicians and diplomats to
hold negotiations in order to resolve the crisis in the country, has failed.
Round table has been held in Kyiv, in Ukraine Palace and was attended by
President Victor Yanukovich, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and representatives
of his government, oppositional leaders Arseny Yatsenyuk, Oleg Tyagnybok and
Vitaly Klichko and by other politicians from the oppositional camp, clergy, and
representatives of Ukrainian civil society, Euromaidan, intellectuals, artists,
students and others.
During the round table Ukrainian President delivered a speech calling
for the people and opposition to stop confrontations and to “come back into the
Constitutional frameworks” in order to resolve the deepening crisis in the
country. He also stated that the situation in Ukraine is extremely difficult
and it is being deteriorating now due to the ongoing massive protests in Kyiv
and other Ukrainian cities as well.
Victor Yanukovich also said that Association Agreement with EU wasn’t
signed due to uncomfortable conditions for Ukraine, but he couldn’t motivate
and explain clearly his position and position of his government regarding the
issue of long made promises that the Agreement will be signed, cooperation and
negotiations with EU and refusal to sign an Agreement in the last moment.
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| Protests in Ukraine, Kyiv (Image: Vlad Sodel) |
Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has delivered the longest speech during the
round table. The biggest part of his speech was dedicated to difficult economic
situation in Ukraine and to the possible deteriorations of it if Ukraine would
sign an Agreement with EU on the conditions and terms agreed before. As for the
recent events with use of violence and total incompetence of government to
resolve the crisis, find responsible persons and handle the situation in a
lawful way, Mr. Azarov made it clear that he doesn’t see his responsibility and
will not resign.
During the round table oppositional leaders have also delivered their
speeches. Head of Batkivshchyna (Homeland) Party Arseny Yatsenyuk addressed
Victor Yanukovich expressing the main demands of protesters on Euromaidan and
called for President to listen to the people and not to escalate the situation.
He stated that among the main demands are finding and punishing of all those responsible
for dispersal of protests, clashes and beatings on Bankova Street near
President’s Office and recent attempts to disperse Maidan in the night. Another
demand is immediate and unconditional release of all unlawfully detained
activists and protesters being currently in custody and facing trials.
Protesters also demand immediate withdrawal of special security forces and
soldiers from the streets of Kyiv and guarantees that force won’t be used
against peaceful protesters anymore. Interior Minister Vitaly Zakharchenko must
be held accountable for the recent events and step down, along with Prime
Minister and current Cabinet of Ministers, which also should resign. Opposition
and representatives of civil society also call for forming of technical
transitional government in order to hold talks with EU regarding Association
Agreement and preparing for early presidential and parliamentary elections.
Signing of Association Agreement with EU is also one of the main demands of protesters.
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| Victor Yanukovich during round table (Image: Vlad Sodel) |
VV
Ukrainian ex-Presidents Leonid Kuchma, Leonid Kravchuk and Victor
Yushchenko have criticized Victor Yanukovich and his policies and called for
taking a decision to resolve the crisis.
Head of Ukrainian Orthodox Church Filaret has said to President directly
that he should be responsible for his decisions and acts. “What are you doing?
Do you want division and civil war in the country?” – stated Filaret. – “You
can disperse this Maidan, but tomorrow there will be another one and bigger. If
you will drag Ukraine into Custom Union, there will be even bigger protests all
over Ukraine. You promised people since long time European integration, and you
lied to them. How do you suppose to build the country on the lies? If you will
disperse these people, there will be more”. Filaret’s speech was one of the
strongest and most honest as he openly said everything in the face of President.
As a result of the talks Victor Yanukovich claimed that persons on
Ukrainian side responsible for preparing the text of Association Agreement with
EU will be held accountable for treason of national interests of Ukraine. There
should be new agreement with EU, worked out and amended with the participation
of Russia, declared Ukrainian President.
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| Oppositional leaders Arseny Yatsenyuk, Oleg Tyagnybok and Vitaly Klichko during the round table (Image: Reuters) |
Regarding the detained activists and protesters Mr. Yanukovich said they
will be released in the frameworks of amnesty. He also stated that government
won’t use force against demonstrators anymore, and that three high ranking
officials will be held accountable for dispersal of Maidan on 30th
November. He didn’t call their names though.
Thus Yanukovich and his government let the country understand that they
aren’t going to meet any of the demands of protesters and opposition, and
government also won’t resign. Neither Yanukovich nor Azarov and his government
feel themselves responsible for the recent events in the country and deepening
crisis.
Oppositional leaders have stated participation in this round table was
their mistake and they shouldn’t agree to negotiate with this government.
It’s also worth mentioning that round table held in the format of
national dialogue and aimed to help to resolve the crisis in Ukraine wasn’t
aired by any of the stated TV channels. Several independent media channels
tried to organize their own coverage, but it failed as internet and mobile
connection have been disrupted during the meeting what demonstrates that
government didn’t want these talks to be really public and available for all
Ukrainian citizens.
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| Massive anti-government and pro-EU protests in Kyiv (Image: Wikimedia) |
Meanwhile protests in Kyiv are ongoing with nearly 20 thousand people
gathering in Independence Square. Protesters’ camp is living its normal life
with people organizing themselves and their life in the camp and residents of
capital helping them with aid, food, warm things, medicines etc. New barricades
have been erected by protesters on the perimeter of the protests’ camp.
Though there was information that some provocations are possible this
night, so Maidan has declared mobilization and expects another attempt to
disperse it as many security forces troops remain in the city.
Opposition and demonstrators call for the people to join fresh
million-man march to be held on Sunday on Independence Square. This protest is
expected to be attended by unprecedented numbers of people from all over
Ukraine, as even now tens of thousands of Ukrainians from other regions are
arriving in Kyiv.
At the same time authorities organize pro-government rally to be held on
European Square also on Sunday, and it is just nearly 200 meters from
Independence Square. Tens of thousands of people are being transported in an organized
way to Kyiv with the buses. There are also serious threats of possible
provocations and trying to provoke clashes during Sunday demonstrations in
order to justify possible force scenario for Yanukovich.
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