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Foreign Minister Westerwelle on the situation in Ukraine: protect peaceful demonstrators, respect European values
Foreign Minister Westerwelle issued the following statement today (1 December) on the ongoing demonstrations in Kyiv and elsewhere in Ukraine:
The people in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities are taking to the streets for a European-oriented Ukraine. They have a perfect right to do so. We share their wish to lose no time in moving Ukraine closer to the European Union. Our offer to this effect is still on the table.
I strongly urge the Ukrainian government to guarantee freedom of assembly and to protect the peaceful demonstrators from all forms of intimidation and violence.
The fact that it is currently Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE should prompt the government in Kyiv to respect our common European values.
For several days now many people have been demonstrating in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities for closer ties between Ukraine and the European Union. On 5 and 6 December, Ukraine will host the OSCE Foreign Ministers Meeting.
