December 05, 2013
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Foreign diplomats have converged on a tense Ukrainian capital, which is gripped by massive protests against the government's decision to freeze ties with the EU and turn to Moscow instead.
Several thousand activists continued rallying on a central square and besieging government meetings early Thursday as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's ministerial council began its meeting in a conference center on the other side of the river.
Prime Minister Mykola Azarov told the meeting that the protests "are a completely normal development in a country where democracy is developing." "We will do everything we can to ensure this is a peaceful protest," he said.
With President Viktor Yanukovych away in China, the government showed no sign of yielding to protests. Police have promised not to use force, but law enforcement bodies were detaining and investigating scores of opposition activists.
The demonstrators were sparked by Yanukovych's decision ditch a significant treaty with the European Union after strong pressure from Russia. They were also galvanized by a violent break-up of a small, peaceful rally last month.
The protesters are demanding the government resign and that early elections be called. Azarov chided the demonstrators who have occupied or blocked government buildings, saying they are contradicting the values they claim to support.
"That is not the European way forward," Azarov said of the building occupations. He also said Ukraine remains committed to moving forward with the EU association and characterized Yanukovych's shelving of the signing as only a pause.
"The timeout we have taken is clearly taken only because of economic difficulties," he said. Ukraine says it now cannot absorb the trade losses with Russia it likely would suffer if it had signed the EU agreement last month.
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Foreign diplomats have converged on a tense Ukrainian capital, which is gripped by massive protests against the government's decision to freeze ties with the EU and turn to Moscow instead.
Several thousand activists continued rallying on a central square and besieging government meetings early Thursday as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's ministerial council began its meeting in a conference center on the other side of the river.
Prime Minister Mykola Azarov told the meeting that the protests "are a completely normal development in a country where democracy is developing." "We will do everything we can to ensure this is a peaceful protest," he said.
With President Viktor Yanukovych away in China, the government showed no sign of yielding to protests. Police have promised not to use force, but law enforcement bodies were detaining and investigating scores of opposition activists.
The demonstrators were sparked by Yanukovych's decision ditch a significant treaty with the European Union after strong pressure from Russia. They were also galvanized by a violent break-up of a small, peaceful rally last month.
The protesters are demanding the government resign and that early elections be called. Azarov chided the demonstrators who have occupied or blocked government buildings, saying they are contradicting the values they claim to support.
"That is not the European way forward," Azarov said of the building occupations. He also said Ukraine remains committed to moving forward with the EU association and characterized Yanukovych's shelving of the signing as only a pause.
"The timeout we have taken is clearly taken only because of economic difficulties," he said. Ukraine says it now cannot absorb the trade losses with Russia it likely would suffer if it had signed the EU agreement last month.
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