Interfax
March 20, 2014
Ukraine seeks joint military drills with its security guarantors on Ukrainian territory – NSDC decision
KYIV: Kyiv is drafting an address to the guarantors of its security, sovereignty and territorial integrity asking them to help arrange joint military exercises on Ukrainian territory, Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Secretary Andriy Parubiy said.
“A decision has been made both to terminate [Ukraine's] chairmanship of the CIS and to launch the procedure for its withdrawal from the CIS. A plan has also been formulated along with an address requesting joint exercises of the Ukrainian army and our allies – the guarantors of our country’s security – on the territory of Ukraine. Such an address has also been prepared, and we are now working on this statement,” he said at a press briefing after the council’s session on Wednesday evening.
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Interfax-Ukraine
March 20, 2014
Ukraine refuses to preside over CIS in 2014 – Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry
Ukraine has decided to end its presidency of the CIS in 2014, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry has reported.
“Ukraine has decided not to continue its presidency of the CIS in 2014,” Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Yevhen Perebyinis said on Wednesday.
According to him, the CIS, instead of fulfilling its main tasks, had become “an instrument for the implementation of the interests of individual members of the Commonwealth, in particular Russia.”
Perebyinis said that because of the situation in Crimea, Ukraine insisted that the CIS adopt a resolution that condemns aggression. Kyiv relied on the fact that CIS organization is based on the principles of respect for sovereignty and the inviolability of borders.
“Unfortunately, recent events have proved the contrary,” the diplomat said.
Despite Ukraine being one of the founders of the CIS, under the Belavezha Accords signed in 1991, it has not ratified the CIS charter and de jure is not a CIS member state.
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