Ukraine: EPP Foreign Ministers’ group co-chairs Sikorski and Brok condemn recent legislation; call on Yanukovych to respect international commitments

Following a meeting of Foreign Ministers of the European People’s Party (EPP) this morning in Brussels, the co-chairmen, Radosław Sikorski, Foreign Minister of Poland, and Elmar Brok, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, made the following statement regarding the alarming developments in Ukraine:

“The EPP condemns the adoption by the Ukrainian Rada, without respecting the appropriate legal procedures, of new legislation restricting basic democratic principles and human rights such as the freedom of speech and the freedom of assembly. This ‘Belarussification’ of Ukraine endangers the future of the country, its independence and the European aspirations of its citizens.

Violence and repression will lead the country into tremendous chaos. Negotiations between the opposition and the Ukrainian regime, based on a true and open democracy, are the only way to overcome the current confrontation. Therefore, we welcome the recent launch of talks between President Viktor Yanukovych and the opposition leaders. All possible solutions must be considered, including early elections.

We call on the President of Ukraine to refrain from using violence and repression and to respect the international commitments of Ukraine in the field of human rights, democratic freedoms and the rule of law.”

The EPP is the largest and most influential European-level political party of the centre-right, which currently includes 74 member-parties from 39 countries, the Presidents of the European Commission and the European Council, 12 EU and 4 non-EU heads of state and government, 13 members of the European Commission and the largest Group in the European Parliament.