Ukrainian
President Viktor Yanukovich and opposition leaders on Monday agreed to
repeal some anti-protest laws at a special session of parliament aimed
at defusing two months of unrest against Yanukovich's rule.
The
presidential web site quoted Justice Minister Olena Lukash, who was
present at the talks, as saying Tuesday's crunch session of parliament
would also discuss the issue of the government's "responsibility".
But
she added that former economy minister Arseny Yatsenyuk, one of the
opposition leaders, had formally turned down the offer of the post of
prime minister which was made by Yanukovich at the weekend.
The
sides also agreed that prisoners detained by police in the unrest
should be granted an amnesty, though Yanukovich had made this
conditional on protesters relinquishing control of all premises and
roads they had seized.
Ukraine opposition leader Yatsenyuk turns down PM post - presidency
Ukrainian
opposition leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk has formally turned down an offer
to be prime minister but the government and opposition have agreed to
scrap draconian anti-protest laws, the presidency said in a statement on
Monday.
Following
talks with the opposition in Kiev, the presidency said the two sides
also agreed an amnesty for arrested protesters but only on condition
that activists leave official buildings they have occupied and clear
away barricades from roads.
Issue of Ukrainian govt’s responsibility to be included in agenda of parliament session
Ukrainian
President Viktor Yanukovich and leaders of the irreconcilable
opposition Vitaly Klichko, Arseny Yatsenyuk and Oleg Tyagnybok have
agreed to include the issue of responsibility of the cabinet led by
Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov in the agenda of the Verkhovna Rada
session that will be held later Tuesday, Justice Minister Yelena Lukash
said after a four-hour-long meeting between Yanukovich and the
oppositionists.
Discussion
of the Azarov cabinet’s responsibility may entail a resignation of the
latter - something the opposition is pressing for.
“Provisions of the law that will lose effect will be scrutinized by the parties to the talks together,” Lukash said.
She
also told reporters that Arseny Yatsenyuk, the leader of the
Batkivshchina (Fatherland) party parliamentary faction, turned down
president Viktor Yushchenko’s proposal to take the post of Prime
Minister, she said. The talks will continue.
Imposing state of emergency in Ukraine will aggravate situation – Ashton
EU
foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton warns that imposing a state of
emergency in Ukraine will aggravate the situation in the country, which
will be for no one’s good.
Catherine
Ashton says in her statement that she is going to Kiev on Tuesday
night, in the wake of today’s visit of Stefan Fule, Commissioner
responsible for enlargement and European neighborhood policy.
Ashton also calls the opposition leaders to dissociate themselves from those who resort to violence.
She stressed that the only solution to the crisis is a political solution.
EU's Ashton advances Ukraine trip to Tuesday
EU
foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton is to fly to Ukraine on Tuesday,
48 hours earlier than previously scheduled, to help defuse the crisis,
she announced Monday.
"I
will fly to Kiev tomorrow evening," Ashton said in a statement. Her
office told AFP she would leave after talks with Russian President
Vladimir Putin in Brussels on Tuesday and that she would spend Wednesday
in Kiev before leaving for Riga on Thursday.
Way forward !
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