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Russia outlines principles for int'l group over Ukraine crisis settlement

17 March 2014 19:10 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Russia said Monday that it has initiated a support group for Ukraine that would be acceptable for all political forces in the country and outlined major principles for a settlement of the ongoing crisis, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

"Participants in the support group would be obliged by the principles of respecting the interests of the multi-ethnic Ukrainian people, and backing Ukrainians' struggle for living in security in compliance with their customs and traditions," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Among the principles were "inadmissibility of restoring neo-Nazi ideology, and the need for Ukrainian politicians to dissociate themselves from ultra-nationalists and stop their attempts to destabilize the situation in different regions," said the statement.

It said the proposed group should work not on bridging gaps between Moscow and Kiev as suggested by Western countries, but on encouraging Ukrainians to implement an agreement signed on Feb. 21 by now-deposed President Viktor Yanukovych and leaders of then opposition parties.

The group should also persuade the Ukrainian authorities to call a constitutional assembly and hold a popular referendum for adopting a new constitution, said the statement.

After the adoption of a new constitution, general elections must be organized, it said, adding that Crimea's right to decide its status in line with Sunday's referendum must be recognized and respected.

The statement said these aims and principals must be guaranteed by Russia, the European Union and the United States and enshrined by a UN Security Council resolution.

On Sunday, Crimeans voted overwhelmingly for the mostly Russian-speaking peninsula's reunification with Russia. Following the vote, the Crimean parliament declared independence from Ukraine and applied to become part of Russia.

The Ukrainian authorities have dismissed the referendum as "illegal," saying it violates the country's constitution.