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Ukrainian Official Calls for Talks With Protesters Ukrainian Official Calls for Talks With Protesters
(35 minutes later)
KIEV, Ukraine — The first vice prime minister of Ukraine, Serhiy Arbuzov, has called for negotiations with the government to end the standoff with thousands of protesters who are demanding the resignation of the government and President Viktor F. Yanukovich, saying the government would be open to discussing the possibility of early elections. KIEV, Ukraine — The first vice prime minister of Ukraine, Serhiy Arbuzov, has called for negotiations to end the standoff with thousands of protesters who are demanding the resignation of the government and President Viktor F. Yanukovich, saying the government would be open to discussing the possibility of early elections.
Mr. Arbuzov, speaking in an interview late Wednesday on Channel 5 television here, was far from definitive, refusing to give any assurance that such snap elections would take place. “I’m saying that we should negotiate, sit down at the negotiating table,” he said, adding, “I admit that when we sit down at the negotiating table, such proposals may be heard.”Mr. Arbuzov, speaking in an interview late Wednesday on Channel 5 television here, was far from definitive, refusing to give any assurance that such snap elections would take place. “I’m saying that we should negotiate, sit down at the negotiating table,” he said, adding, “I admit that when we sit down at the negotiating table, such proposals may be heard.”
The next regular parliamentary elections are set for 2017 and a presidential election in February 2015. The next regular parliamentary elections are set for 2017. A presidential election is scheduled for February 2015.
The overture did little to slow the protest movement by throngs of demonstrators who have occupied public buildings and a landmark plaza since late last month. On Thursday morning, a convoy of cars driven by demonstrators blockaded vehicle access to the headquarters of the Berkut, the special riot police who were involved in a bloody crackdown on the protesters on Saturday morning. The overture did little to slow the protest movement by throngs of demonstrators who have occupied public buildings and a landmark plaza for almost a week. On Thursday morning, a convoy of cars driven by demonstrators blockaded vehicle access to the headquarters of the Berkut, the special riot police who were involved in a bloody crackdown on the protesters on Saturday morning.
They continued to occupy the landmark Independence Square in the center of Kiev, the capital, where they have established a small tent city and constructed barriers topped with razor wire around a wide perimeter. They also continued to occupy City Hall and at least two other public buildings, and are blockading the Cabinet Ministry building in a bid to paralyze the government. Demonstrators continued to occupy Independence Square in the center of Kiev, the capital, where they have established a small tent city and constructed barriers topped with razor wire around a wide perimeter. They also continued to occupy City Hall and at least two other public buildings, and are blockading the Cabinet Ministry building in a bid to paralyze the government.
The protesters, a loose coalition of opposition political parties, civic organizations and student groups, have shown little confidence that their demands can or will be met through existing government structures. A measure of no-confidence in the government was defeated in Parliament this week and Mr. Yanukovich left the country for a state visit to China. The protesters, a loose coalition of opposition political parties, civic organizations and student groups, have shown little confidence that their demands can or will be met through existing government structures. A motion of no confidence in the government was defeated in Parliament this week and Mr. Yanukovich has left the country for a state visit to China.
Before leaving, Mr. Yanukovich gave a television interview in which he appeared relaxed and suggested that opposition political leaders were getting ahead of themselves and should wait for 2015 to challenge him. He gave no indication that he was considering early elections.Before leaving, Mr. Yanukovich gave a television interview in which he appeared relaxed and suggested that opposition political leaders were getting ahead of themselves and should wait for 2015 to challenge him. He gave no indication that he was considering early elections.
While there have been some defections from the majority Party of Regions, which supports Mr. Yanukovich, the vote showed that, for now at least, his coalition with the Communist Party is intact, and he is not facing a widespread internal revolt. While there have been some defections from the majority Party of Regions, which supports Mr. Yanukovich, the vote showed that, for now at least, his coalition with the Communist Party is intact, and that he is not facing a widespread internal revolt.
Public opinion polls, however, suggest that he is now deeply unpopular for refusing to sign far-reaching political and free trade agreements with the European Union that had been in the works for years – the decision that set off the initial protests. Ukraine is also facing a severe economic crisis and is need of a major aid package. Depending on how that crisis is resolved, Mr. Yanukovich’s support could erode further. Opinion polls, however, suggest that he is now deeply unpopular for refusing to sign far-reaching political and trade agreements with the European Union that had been in the works for years — the decision that set off the initial protests. Ukraine is also facing a severe economic crisis and is in need of a major aid package. Depending on how the economic crisis is resolved, Mr. Yanukovich’s support could erode further.
Prime Minister Mykola Azaraov, speaking at the opening of a ministerial conference of the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe, which is being held in Kiev this week, said that all decisions about the political future of the country should be made at the ballot box. Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, speaking at the opening of a ministerial conference of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which is being held in Kiev this week, said that all decisions about the political future of the country should be made at the ballot box.
“Our opinion is that all issues related to the governing authorities should be resolved exclusively during elections,” Mr. Azarov said at the opening of the assembly of foreign ministers and other diplomats. “We recognize the protests. We are ready for dialogue. But this dialogue must be peaceful and we made it clear to our opponents that there are democratic electoral procedures.”“Our opinion is that all issues related to the governing authorities should be resolved exclusively during elections,” Mr. Azarov said at the opening of the assembly of foreign ministers and other diplomats. “We recognize the protests. We are ready for dialogue. But this dialogue must be peaceful and we made it clear to our opponents that there are democratic electoral procedures.”
The protesters are not the only ones suggesting that the crisis will only be resolved through some special negotiations outside the normal workings of government. The speaker of Parliament, Volodymyr Rybak, has called for “round-table” discussions to resolve the crisis, using the same phrase for negotiations that were held in 2004 to address Ukraine’s Orange Revolution. In that case, however, the mass protests were over a disputed election and the resolution – a repeat of the vote – was easy to identify and relatively simple to carry out. The protesters are not the only ones suggesting that the crisis will only be resolved through some special negotiations outside the normal workings of government. The speaker of Parliament, Volodymyr Rybak, has called for “round-table” discussions to resolve the crisis, using the same phrase as that used for negotiations that were held in 2004 to address Ukraine’s Orange Revolution. In that case, however, the mass protests were over a disputed election and the resolution — a repeat of the vote — was easy to identify and relatively simple to carry out.
In this case, protesters are furious that Mr. Yanukovich, under pressure from Russia, refused to sign the agreements with the European Union, which many viewed as the key to a brighter political and economic future. At this point, it is not clear that even simply signing the accords would satisfy his opponents, who are demanding his resignation. In this case, protesters are furious that Mr. Yanukovich, under pressure from Russia, refused to sign the agreements with the European Union, which many view as the key to a brighter political and economic future. At this point, it is not clear that even simply signing the accords would satisfy his opponents, who are demanding his resignation.
In place of the agreements, Mr. Yanukovich has said he wants to repair trade relations with Russia in hopes of stabilizing the country’s economic problems. He has called for three-way talks with Russia and Europe, but European officials have shown no willingness to participate. In place of the agreements, Mr. Yanukovich has said that he wants to repair trade relations with Russia in hopes of stabilizing the country’s economic problems. He has called for three-way talks with Russia and Europe, but European officials have shown no willingness to participate.
Western leaders say they remain open to signing the deals with Ukraine but are not prepare to engage in a bidding war with Moscow. Western leaders say that they remain open to signing the deals with Ukraine but are not prepared to engage in a bidding war with Moscow.
Ukraine’s three former presidents, Leonid M. Kravchuk, Leonid D. Kuchma and Viktor A. Yushchenko, have also issued a joint statement also calling for round-table talks. “The way out has to be found through an open dialogue with civic society,” the presidents wrote. “The solution to the political crisis needs to be urgently found in the format of a national round-table.” Ukraine’s three former presidents, Leonid M. Kravchuk, Leonid D. Kuchma and Viktor A. Yushchenko, have issued a joint statement also calling for round-table talks. “The way out has to be found through an open dialogue with civic society,” the former presidents wrote. “The solution to the political crisis needs to be urgently found in the format of a national round-table.”
The looming 2015 presidential elections have seemed to be a major factor in Mr. Yanukovich’s decisions. As a condition to signing the accords, Western leaders were demanding the release of Ukraine’s jailed former prime minister, Yulia V. Tymoshenko — Mr. Yanukovich’s main political rival — so that she could seek medical treatment in Germany for chronic back problems. The 2015 presidential elections have seemed to be a major factor in Mr. Yanukovich’s decisions. As a condition to signing the accords, Western leaders were demanding the release of Ukraine’s jailed former prime minister, Yulia V. Tymoshenko — Mr. Yanukovich’s main political rival — so that she could seek medical treatment in Germany for chronic back problems.
Ms. Tymoshenko is a tenacious opponent and it seems unlikely that Mr. Yanukovich would trust her to stay outside of Ukraine or to ignore Ukrainian politics if she were released. Ms. Tymoshenko is a tenacious opponent and it seems unlikely that Mr. Yanukovich would trust her to stay out of Ukraine or to ignore Ukrainian politics if she were released.
In addition, Russia, exerted heavy pressure on Mr. Yanukovich to derail the agreements with Europe, sensing an expansion of Western economic influence similar to the expansion of military power through NATO. The Kremlin threatened severe economic sanctions that could have devastated the Ukrainian economy, particularly the eastern portion of the country, which forms a major part of Mr. Yanukovich’s political base. In addition, Russia exerted heavy pressure on Mr. Yanukovich to derail the agreements with Europe, sensing an expansion of Western economic influence similar to the expansion of military power through NATO. The Kremlin threatened severe economic sanctions that could have devastated the Ukrainian economy, particularly the eastern portion of the country, which forms a major part of Mr. Yanukovich’s political base.
The ministerial meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, an intergovernmental group, could not have come at a worse time, drawing high-level officials and the world’s attention to Kiev just as scenes of chaos and unrest grip the capital. Several dozen protesters picketed the meeting site. The meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, an intergovernmental group, could not have come at a worse time, drawing high-level officials and the world’s attention to Kiev just as scenes of chaos and unrest grip the capital. Several dozen protesters picketed the meeting site.
Normally, holding the annual chairmanship of the organization is considered an honor and nations revel in their role as host of such gatherings. In Ukraine’s case, however, it has given foreign officials an easy way to express their disapproval of the political situation. Normally, holding the annual chairmanship of the organization is considered an honor and nations revel in their role as host. In Ukraine’s case, however, it has given foreign officials an easy way to express their disapproval of the political situation.
Secretary of State John Kerry and Catherine Ashton, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, pointedly canceled their plans to attend the meeting. Meanwhile, the German foreign minister, Guido Westerwelle, used his visit here, to immediately visit Independence Square, the center of protest activities, to meet with opposition leaders and show his support for peaceful demonstrations. Secretary of State John Kerry and Catherine Ashton, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, pointedly canceled their plans to attend the meeting. The German foreign minister, Guido Westerwelle, used his visit here to visit Independence Square, the center of protest activities, to meet with opposition leaders and to show his support for peaceful demonstrations.
Western diplomats had been pressing Ukraine to promise that there would be no attempt to forcibly remove the demonstrators from the square – a commitment they seemed to receive. The interior minister announced on Wednesday that he had ordered police not to use force against peaceful protesters. Western diplomats had been pressing Ukraine to promise that there would be no attempt to forcibly remove the demonstrators from the square — a commitment they seemed to receive. The interior minister announced on Wednesday that he had ordered police not to use force against peaceful protesters.
At a human rights summit in Washington on Wednesday, President Obama’s national security adviser, Susan E. Rice, sharply criticized Russia over its efforts to maintain influence in the former Soviet Union, including pressuring Ukraine to ditch the accords with Europe.At a human rights summit in Washington on Wednesday, President Obama’s national security adviser, Susan E. Rice, sharply criticized Russia over its efforts to maintain influence in the former Soviet Union, including pressuring Ukraine to ditch the accords with Europe.
“We often can cooperate with Russian on nonproliferation, arms control, counterterrorism and other vital interest,” Ms. Rice said. “But, as we meet these mutual challenges, we don’t remain silent about the Russian government’s systematic efforts to curtail the actions of Russian civil society, to stigmatize the LGBT community, to coerce neighbors like Ukraine, who seek closer integration with Europe, or to stifle human rights in the North Caucasus,” Ms. Rice said. “We often can cooperate with Russian on nonproliferation, arms control, counterterrorism and other vital interest,” Ms. Rice said. “But, as we meet these mutual challenges, we don’t remain silent about the Russian government’s systematic efforts to curtail the actions of Russian civil society, to stigmatize the L.G.B.T. community, to coerce neighbors like Ukraine, who seek closer integration with Europe, or to stifle human rights in the North Caucasus,” Ms. Rice said.
“We deplore selection justice and the prosecution of those who protest the corruption and cronyism that is sapping Russia’s economic future and limiting its potential to play its full role on the world stage.”“We deplore selection justice and the prosecution of those who protest the corruption and cronyism that is sapping Russia’s economic future and limiting its potential to play its full role on the world stage.”
Russia has angrily denounced such criticism from the West, saying that it was the European Union that was strong-arming Ukraine and other former Soviet republics into signing the accords and that Russia was simply looking out for its own economic interests and that of Ukraine, which is a close trading partner and shares an ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious history with Russia.Russia has angrily denounced such criticism from the West, saying that it was the European Union that was strong-arming Ukraine and other former Soviet republics into signing the accords and that Russia was simply looking out for its own economic interests and that of Ukraine, which is a close trading partner and shares an ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious history with Russia.