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Monday, January 27, 2014

Ukraine president, opposition agree to scrap anti-protest laws



Ukrainian president agrees to scrap anti-protest legislation that set off unrest. The statement came after a meeting between President Viktor Yanukovych and top opposition figures late Monday.
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.

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