Address by the Charge d'Affaires a.i. of Ukraine to Poland,

Mr. Vladyslav Kanevsky at the meeting of the Governing Council

 of the Community of Democracies

(Warsaw, 26 June 2014)

Your Excellency, Mrs. Secretary General,

Your Excellency, Mr. Chairman,

Your Excellencies, distinguished participants,

On behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine let me thank for this opportunity to address the Governing Council of the Community of Democracies.

Unfortunately, due to a very tight schedule of Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin to advance in promoting the President Poroshenko Peace Plan and preparing for signing the DCFTA with the EU, he would not be able to attend the meeting in Warsaw.

After ‘the Revolution of Dignity’ that let Ukraine resume its movement towards Europe, our country has faced enormous challenges on the way to democracy, state of law and reforms. We have to admit that the previous Government brought the country to the brink of economic and financial bankruptcy. This was the first challenge that the new Ukrainian authorities were ready to react to, taking all necessary measures and feeling their full responsibility.

The people of Ukraine appreciates very much an essential international support during all the period of ‘Maidan’ and the readiness of further support that the international community demonstrated after Maidan’s victory. However, a treacherous aggression of Russia in Crimea and its annexation, the ongoing Russia’s attempts to destabilise situation in Eastern Ukraine have arisen very different challenges. Russia has blatantly violated all international norms and totally neglected its own legal bilateral and multilateral obligations towards Ukraine.

The UN General Assembly by the overwhelming majority voted in favor of “Ukraine’s Territorial Integrity” Resolution on 27 March 2014. It was a vivid demonstration of the unequivocal global support of Ukraine’s sovereignty, political independence, unity and territorial integrity in Ukraine’s internationally recognized boundaries.

In the domestic policy the Government of Ukraine has proclaimed a very clear and comprehensive agenda: reform of the political, economic and judicial system, creation of favourable and transparent economic environment, guaranteeing democratic values and development of civil society, securing rights of all minorities and citizens. Special attention is paid to the ongoing constitutional reform and decentralization of powers as one of its essential elements.

Priorities will be given to restoring macroeconomic stability, strengthening the banking sector, reforming the energy sector, eradicating corruption and improving accountability as well as enhancing the investment climate and better targeting of social assistance.

The signing of the Association Agreement with the EU is the main instrument to re-establish Ukraine’s way to Europe and to ground all reforms on a very stable and prospective basis.

To find settlement of the actual situation in the Eastern Ukraine the newly elected President Petro Poroshenko presented a Peaceful plan. Plan encompasses three spheres: de-escalation, stabilization and dialogue. Currently, conditions for the de-escalation are established. During this time Russian mercenaries and militants had to surrender weapons, liberate hostages and buildings.

However, the success of the peaceful plan implementation is possible in case it is supported by Russia. We urge international community to push Russia to establish strict control at the state border, stop of flow of insurgents  and weapons to Ukraine, cancel the military build-ups near Ukraine’s border, withdraw the decision by the Russian parliament “On the use of the armed forces of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine”.

Besides numerous statements, Russia had not demonstrated any real readiness to positively affect the situation. Its actions deliberately deepen tensions. We call to impose strict economic sanctions against Russia’s aggressive politics.

Your Excellencies,

We are sure that the peace and stability in our country will be settled as well as reforms will be successfully implemented. In this regard I have an honor to reaffirm that Ukraine is highly interested in implementation of agreements, made by H.E. Mrs. Maria Leissner, Secretary General of the Community of Democracies this April in Kyiv.

Ukraine supports the creation of a Task Force the Community of Democracies to assist Ukraine in our endeavour in building a fully pledged democracy.

We are also interested in final defining of the areas to cooperate within the Task Force, its format and possible activities. To our opinion, the Task Force can be focused, in particular, on decentralization of power and strengthening of local self-government; justice, law enforcement and customs reforms; civil society and law enforcement interaction; citizen’s participation in organising territorial defence.

In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine will address to the Permanent Secretariat of the Community of Democracies the relevant proposals to begin our cooperation in a practical way as soon as possible.

Thank you for your attention.

,