Top representatives of the European Union, the United States, Ukraine and the Russian Federation announced after a meeting in Geneva that they agreed on initial concrete steps to deescalate tensions and restore security for all citizens of Ukraine.
“All sides must refrain from any violence, intimidation or provocative actions,” the participants said in a joint statement, adding that they “strongly condemned and rejected all expressions of extremism, racism and religious intolerance, including anti-semitism.”
“All illegal armed groups must be disarmed; all illegally seized buildings must be returned to legitimate owners; all illegally ocupied streets, squares and other public places in Ukrainian cities and towns must be vacated,” the statement said.
Protesters and those who have left buildings and surrendered weapons, except those found guilty of capital crimes, will be granted amnesty, the participants agreed.
The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission “should play a leading role” in assisting Ukrainian and local authorities in “implementation of these deescalation measures wherever they are needed most, beginning in the coming days.”
The US, EU and Russia will support the mission and provide monitors.
The agreement was reached by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, US Secretary of State John Kerry, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsya and Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergei Lavrov.
The integral statement:http://eeas.europa.eu/statements/docs/2014/140417_01_en.pdf
