Kiev use of truce to regrouping troops harmful (Lavrov at talks other FMs) - JOINT DECLARATION BY THE FM OF UA, RU, FR AND GR

Russia considers it damaging to have used the Ukrainian truce for regrouping forces and disarming or killing the militia. "If a truce is used solely for re-grouping the troops of either side and to implement those parts of the Ukrainian president's plan with respect to which we expressed serious doubts, namely telling the militia to either disarm or be destroyed - I categorically reject that path and consider it harmful to the neighboring fraternal country," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

Moscow hopes external actors will persuade Kiev to sit at the negotiating table with militiamen, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

"We are very hopeful that relevant signals will be also be sent to the Ukrainian government, given the close ties between other groups of external actors and the authorities in Kiev," he told a press conference after talks with his counterparts from Germany, France and Ukraine in Berlin on Wednesday.

"We believe that everyone here must act in unison and urge all those who now oppose one another in Ukraine to start a dialogue," the minister added.

At the same Lavrov noted that Moscow "has certain possibilities to be able to influence those who protect their houses, their relatives, their families, their soil and want their rights be recognized and respected in the Ukrainian state".

"We have many times called, and continue to call, on all those involved in the standoff to get down to the negotiating table and solve issues through dialog. We do this publically. We call once again, in public, for this in the declaration that we agreed on together with our Ukrainian, German and French counterparts," he said.

"By the way representatives of the militia, in particular [prime minister of the Donetsk People's Republic] Mr. Borodai has stated publically today that in response to these calls on behalf of Russia and the OSCE they are ready for consultations on how to agree on peace terms," Lavrov added.

Members of the OSCE mission in Ukraine must monitor compliance with the new truce in the country's southeast after an agreement was reached to that effect, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

"Under the document, the ceasefire, once agreed upon, will be monitored by the OSCE mission which is already operating in Ukraine," Lavrov said after a meeting with his German, French and Ukrainian counterparts in Berlin on Wednesday.

• "We hope this mission will monitor compliance with the ceasefire and register breaches by both sides, because until now, the previous declaration of a ceasefire has been effected by breaches on both sides," the minister added.

The Russia, German, French and Ukrainian foreign ministers, at a meeting on Wednesday, called for setting up a contact group as soon as possible to agree terms for a new ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said............................. http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_07_02/Use-of-truce-by-Kiev-for-regrouping-troops-harmful-Lavrov-at-talks-with-German-French-Ukrainian-FMs-8701/
2/7/14
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• JOINT DECLARATION BY THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF UKRAINE, RUSSIA, FRANCE AND GERMANY (mid.ru)

"The Foreign Ministers of Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine strongly reconfirm their commitment to sustainable peace and stability in Ukraine. In this context they stress the necessity of a sustainable ceasefire, to be agreed upon swiftly and to be observed by all concerned, thus putting an end to violence in Eastern Ukraine.

Ministers urge that the Contact Group should resume no later than July 5th with the goal of reaching an unconditional and mutually agreed sustainable cease-fire. This cease-fire should be monitored by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine in conformity with its mandate. In that respect, Ministers agree to take all necessary measures and use their influence on the concerned parties with a view to achieving this goal. Ministers stress the importance of a swift release of all hostages.

Ministers welcome Russia's readiness to grant Ukrainian border guards access to Russian territory in order to participate in the control of border crossings at the checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk while the mutually agreed cease-fire is in place. This shall be done in close collaboration between Russian and Ukrainian border authorities and pending the return of the Ukrainian checkpoints Izvarino and Krasnopartizansk to Ukrainian government control.

Ministers invite the OSCE to take all necessary steps to deploy OSCE-observers in response to the Russian invitation at the Russian checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk while the mutually agreed cease-fire is in place. All sides must contribute to a secure environment.

Ministers stress that this would contribute to an effective control of the Russian-Ukrainian border and called for regular and expeditious exchange of relevant information between Russia, Ukraine and the OSCE.

Ministers emphasize the need to ensure safety and security of journalists working in the area of violence. "
http://www.mid.ru/bdomp/brp_4.nsf/e78a48070f128a7b43256999005bcbb3/2fd69f0269f1e51b44257d0900659a61!OpenDocument
2/7/14