BELGIUM: NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen expresses concern over violence used against pro-EU protesters in Kiev and urges authorities to live up to democratic principles

Record ID: 861334

  • Title: BELGIUM: NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen expresses concern over violence used against pro-EU protesters in Kiev and urges authorities to live up to democratic principles
  • Date: 2nd December 2013
  • Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (RECENT) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF NATO HEADQUARTERS NATO FLAG
  • Embargoed: 17th December 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Belgium
  • City:
  • Country: Belgium
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA6S39ML2AJTMH6XMOFYUXWRC64
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  • Story Text: NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Monday (December 2) called upon the Ukrainian government to refrain from violence and to act in accordance with democratic principles, as thousands of protesters strolled through the capital Kiev to protest against a government decision to abandon an EU integration pact..
    When asked if Russian troops were prepared to enter Ukraine, Rasmussen denied having had such information.

    "I have no information whatsoever that Russian troops should be prepared to enter Ukraine. In that case, of course, it would be in contradiction with all international obligations. We are following the developments in Ukraine with great concern, I encourage all parties to refrain from violence. I would like to stress that we have a partnership with Ukraine and we expect our partners to live up to basic democratic principles, respect the rule of law, respect human rights, including of course the right to assemble and express yourself freely," Rasmussen said after a meeting with Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg.
    Earlier on Monday, protesters in Kiev blockaded the main government building, seeking to force President Viktor Yanukovich from office with a general strike.
    Demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday, which saw violent clashes with the police, drew as many as 350,000 people, the biggest public rally in the ex-Soviet state since the "Orange revolution" against sleaze and electoral fraud nine years ago.
    Yanukovich's decision to abandon a trade pact with the European Union and instead seek closer economic ties with Russia has stirred deep passions in a country where many people yearn to join the European mainstream and escape Moscow's orbit.
    Russian president Vladimir Putin blamed outside actors for the protests, which he said amounted to an attempt to unsettle Ukraine's legitimate rulers.
    Ukraine is divided between those who see stability in close ties with Russia and those who look westwards and see a more prosperous future with the European Union. Since his election in February 2010, Yanukovich has sought to straddle the divide, reassuring Ukrainians he could pursue close ties with Europe while managing relations with Moscow.
    Even some supporters were shocked by the abruptness with which his government announced it was suspending work on a long-awaited pact with the EU in favour of reviving economic ties with Russia. Scenes over the weekend of police beating demonstrators hardened opinion against him.
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