Виступ Заступника Міністра закордонних справ України Данила Лубківського під час брифінгу в Українському кризовому медіа-центрі (англ. мовою)
Виступ Заступника Міністра закордонних справ України Данила Лубківського під час брифінгу в Українському кризовому медіа-центрі (англ. мовою)
Опубліковано 23 травня 2014 року о 13:22
Ukraine Crisis Media Center, 23 May 2014
Ladies and gentlemen,
“Throughout the centuries, the history of Ukraine has revealed the turning points in the history of Europe.
Ukraine has no future without Europe. But Europe also has no future without Ukraine.”
These words belong to Dr. Timothy Snyder.
One week ago Dr. Snyder together with Leon Wieseltier of The New Republic organized the outstanding intellectual conferenceThinking Ukraine held at the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine.
Before the Presidential elections of 25 May and in the process of the ongoing European elections these words have a sound and profound sense.
Ukraine is free and open.
We do not pretend. We do not hide from our problems.
As a united nation we are what we stand and fight for.
Dignity. Freedom. Passion to Change our Life. These words make sense here, in Ukraine.
More than 2700 international observers from 19 countries and a number of organizations will ensure that the Presidential elections will pass in a transparent manner and in full compliance with national and international standards.
More than 400 thousand Ukrainian citizens will be able to vote abroad in one of 114 ballot stations.
All 6 districts in Russia (Moscow, Nizhniy Novgorod, Rostov-na-Donu, St.Petersburg, Ekaterinburg, Novosibirsk) are fully prepared and voting there will take place as per normal.
Under Ukrainian legislations, the elections will be deemed valid even if voting was impossible in a number of districts.
The Government provided for Ukrainian citizens from temporarily occupied Crimea to vote in any other region of our country.
Around 6,000 Ukrainian citizens from Crimea applied to vote in other regions.
Aside from a few electoral districts in Lugansk and Donetsk regions, all preparations are taken in 225 election districts nationwide.
There is no doubt that separatists have already received their instructions.
They will try to derail the election. They are already doing it – spreading death and destruction in some towns of Ukraine’s East. Yet, the soil under their feet is starting to shake.
The people of Donetsk, Lugansk and other cities that were hit the most by separatism, realize now that there is only one way back to peaceful life – electing a new president, engaging in the national dialogue and abstaining from violence.
I am confident that on the 25 of May Ukrainians will support the European future.
The European Union itself is on the eve of milestone elections to the European Parliament.
We hope that unprecedented synergy of our common Association efforts will be not only maintained, but strongly enhanced after this voting with a new strategic perspective.
Ladies and gentlemen,
A successful election on May 25th is Point One on the peace agenda.
Point Two is continuing fulfillment of the Geneva agreement. In particular, proceeding with the National Dialogue.
Round tables as part of the national unity dialogue already have been held in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Mykolaiv.
We have missed this dialogue for years. This Cabinet launched it.
Point Three will be broad economic and political reforms, some of which have already started in the framework of the IMF stand-by program and some of which are in preparation.
This third point is, perhaps, what this all has been about – a possibility for Ukraine to pull through, to shrug off the Post-Soviet past and to become a success and the European drive.
70% of Ukraine’s East and South unequivocally support Ukraine’s unity.
All representatives of intelligentsia and large business of these regions speak out in favor of staying a part of Ukraine.
A very remarkable thing: not even one of them is to be found in the leadership of the “Terrorist Republics” – the ragtag gangs of local misfits inspired and supported by the Kremlin only.
The separatists are getting increasingly isolated. And their time is running up.
All polls point to a successful election with a record turnout wherever Ukrainians are allowed to vote.
And that will be 90% of the country’s territory (aside from the occupied Crimea).
A successful election should become a breakthrough for all of us.
After these dramatic, difficult months Ukraine needs some peace and quiet to fulfill what people so vocally demanded on the streets in East and West: becoming a better state.
Thinking Ukraine, Dr. Snyder said.
To become a better state – that is our intention.
All those who care for Ukraine will help us in this endeavor.