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Foreign Minister Westerwelle on the situation in Ukraine
Against the background of the ongoing protests in Kyiv, Foreign Minister Westerwelle issued the following statement in Madrid today (9 December) on the situation in Ukraine:
The demonstrations over the weekend on Independence Square in Kyiv have shown once again that the Ukrainian people’s yearning for Europe is still very much alive.
It would be fatal for the peaceful protests to be undermined by pressure, threats or violence, no matter from which side.
The freedom of opinion and assembly must be protected by all government authorities; the protests must not be used as an excuse to perpetrate acts of violence. The law of criminal procedure is certainly not the right tool to apply in order to find a good solution.
Foreign Minister Westerwelle has travelled to Madrid, where this afternoon Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy will present him with the Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit.
Afterwards, Foreign Minister Westerwelle will meet his Spanish counterpart José Manuel García-Margallo for bilateral talks. During his visit to Madrid, Foreign Minister Westerwelle will also take part in the public discussion “Fórum Europa” at the Nueva Economía Fórum on 10 December.
