FM Venizelos on developments in Ukraine

Government Vice-President and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos stressed the need to respect existing borders and territorial integrity, in his address during Monday’s EU Foreign Affairs Council on the situation in Ukraine and the referendum in Crimea.

«Our reaction today – a day after the referendum – is an easy one, almost automatic. European

policy must always be a policy based on principles. Territorial integrity and respect for existing borders is the foundation of the status quo, the international legal order and of peace and stability in Europe and throughout the world,» he stressed.

Describing the text of the council’s draft conclusion as «balanced,» Venizelos said the list of persons who are being put under the status of the sanctions, which was drawn up by COREPER, «constitutes an indication of Europe’s resolve, but at the same time we are keeping the political and diplomatic channels of communication open with Russia, on the highest possible level.»

«Our stance on the Ukrainian government is also clear. We continue to insist on the critical points: The inclusiveness not only of the political and social forces, but also of all the regions; security; the roadmap towards democratic normalization; respect for ethnic and ethno-linguistic minorities,» he added.

The minister also emphasised the need to avoid a disorderly default, noting this meant the potential for implementing substantial economic, social and institutional reforms.

«This is always very difficult when reforms are accompanied by economic measures that unpleasant for society. If this is difficult for any government, we can imagine how much more difficult it is for Ukraine’s transitional government,» he said.

Talking about EU-U.S. cooperation on the issue of Russia and Crimea, Venizelos pointed out that the stakes were much bigger in economic relations between the EU and Russia then between Russia and the U.S.

«This is also the right time for us to carry out a reassessment of the European policy of recent months regarding Ukraine and the Eastern Partnership in general,» he pointed out, stressing that it was not the EU’s goal to push Russia «towards exiting the international community, in the context of a new Cold-War rationale.

«Russia must remain within the framework of the international community and international legal order, because we have an historical obligation to seek a diplomatic and political solution as fast as possible,» he added.

In statements earlier, following an informal meeting between the EU28 foreign ministers and their counterpart from Ukraine, Venizelos had again noted that the EU’s stance on Ukraine and Sunday’s referendum in Crimea was «very clear» and based on «a policy of principles».

He stressed that the goal was respect for international law and safeguarding stability and peace and that the solutions must always be «political and diplomatic» and that the EU «must ensure its credibility and ability to function as a basic factor for stability on the European continent». This meant that the EU sent a message of support for international law but also of the need to keep political and diplomatic channels open, he added.

source: ΑΜΝΑ