RUSSIA: U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon calls on Russia and Ukraine to engage in direct dialogue and exercise restraint to resolve the Crimea crisis which he warns could spin out of control

Record ID: 565136

  • Title: RUSSIA: U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon calls on Russia and Ukraine to engage in direct dialogue and exercise restraint to resolve the Crimea crisis which he warns could spin out of control
  • Date: 20th March 2014
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (MARCH 20, 2014) (AGENCY POOL) U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON WALKING IN JOURNALISTS BAN SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL, BAN KI-MOON, SAYING: "I am not in a position to disclose all what the President said. What I can tell you is that I expressed my very serious, grave concerns about the current situation where tensions is going on, the political emotions have been hardened between the important countries particularly Russia as a member of the Security Council, permanent member, and European Union and the United States." JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL, BAN KI-MOON, SAYING: "We must employ every possible diplomatic tool at our disposal to solve this crisis which has grave political and economic ramifications." CAMERA OPERATOR NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL, BAN KI-MOON, SAYING: "They should really resolve this issue peacefully. But first and foremost, most important way is to for Russia and Ukraine sit down together and engage in direct and constructive dialogue." OFFICIALS BAN LEAVING AT END OF BRIEFING
  • Embargoed: 4th April 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Russian Federation
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA3A76DUCYPBSECFHBJVUC4RXJ
  • Story Text: U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Ukraine and Russian on Thursday (March 20) to engage in a dialogue to resolve a crisis over Russian annexation of the Crimean peninsula, a conflict which Ban said posed great risk to regional stability.

    "I expressed my very serious, grave concerns about the current situation where tensions is going on, the political emotions have been hardened between the important countries particularly Russia as a member of the Security Council, permanent member, and European Union and the United States," Ban told reporters after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin.
    Emerging after more than an hour from what he called "a very productive and constructive meeting," Ban called on both sides to exercise restraint in a crisis he warned could spin out of control.

    "We must employ every possible diplomatic tool at our disposal to solve this crisis which has grave political and economic ramifications," Ban said.

    "They should really resolve this issue peacefully. But first and foremost, most important way is to for Russia and Ukraine sit down together and engage in direct and constructive dialogue," he added.
    Ban met Putin as Russia's lower house of parliament voted to approve a treaty the Russian leader signed on Tuesday (March 18) to absorb the Ukrainian region of Crimea into Russia.
    The secretary-general will travel to Kiev on Friday (March 21) with an aim to foster direct talks between the leaders of Ukraine and Russia.
    Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region has brought about the biggest confrontation between Moscow and the West since the Cold War.
    UN officials said that Russian and Ukrainian defense officials have made contact in an effort to reduce the potential armed confrontation in Crimea.
    The Russian military said on Thursday that Ukrainian Defense Minister Ihor Tenyukh had called Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Wednesday (March 19) and they "continued discussions of ... the crisis situation in Ukraine and measures to de-escalate the situation on the Crimean peninsula."
    Moscow said it would boost its military presence in Crimea to protect against external threats, Russia's state news agency Itar-Tass said.
    Crimea is home to Russia's long-time Black Sea naval fleet. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, speaking in parliament, said Ukrainian soldiers left outside the military bases taken over by Russian troops would be able to choose whom to serve.
    Ukraine and Western governments say Russia has illegally seized control of Crimea from Kiev. Russia denies this, saying Crimea voted for union with Russia in a referendum; the West regards the referendum as illegitimate.
  • Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register