Ukrainians in Crimea are urging the Ukrainian government to take all measures to protect the peace and security of Crimean residents. They also say they expect European institutions to exert influence on Russia’s position on separatism.
“We make our appeal to prevent war in Crimea and Ukraine and to protect all citizens of Ukraine residing in Crimea. The Ukrainian government must take immediate steps to ensure peace, tranquility, and safety for Crimeans. We appeal to all responsible citizens of Crimea not to yield to anti-government provocations,” the appeal states.
The appeal adds: “(We call) on those with nuclear powers to guarantee the territorial integrity and security of Ukraine — Great Britain, USA , France, and China — in accordance with the Budapest memorandum, and to take measures to prevent foreign interference in the internal affairs of our country. We ask the UN, the OSCE, the EU, and the Council of Europe to exert influence on Russia’s position on the inadmissibility of inciting separatism in Ukraine’s regions, particularly in Crimea and Sevastopol.
Ukrainians of Crimea also gave their views on the situation in Crimea: “Irresponsible politicians in Crimea have placed the Crimean peninsula on the brink of ethnic conflict and are provoking armed conflict between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. We are witnesses to the provocative interference of foreign politicians in the political life of an integral part of Ukraine: Crimea and Sevastopol,” the appeal states.
Additionally, the appeal decries “direct threats to Ukrainians who reside in Crimea — threats to those who supported Euromaidan in Crimea, regardless of nationality.”
The statement is signed by Andriy Shchekun, the leader of the civic organization Ukrainian House –Crimean Center of Business and Cultural Cooperation, and Pavlo Kushch, the archbishop of the Simferopol and Crimean Ukrainian Orthodox Church — Kyiv Patriarchate.
Source: dt.ua
Translated by Anna Mostovych
Edited by Jana Kubalova and Robin Rohrback
