Ukraine
Steinmeier: the power struggle in Ukraine to stop
“The world is waiting for progress,” warns the German foreign Minister. But the reforms in Ukraine are faltering, as well as the peace process. Fierce dissensions, paralyze the political leadership. The clock is running.
Federal foreign Minister Steinmeier (centre) with his colleagues from France and Ukraine, Ayrault (l.) and Klimkin
France and Germany have the Ukraine prompted the Minsk peace agreement, despite the current government crisis to fully implement. German foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his new French colleague, Jean-Marc Ayrault urged during a visit to Kiev on political reforms as well as on the compliance of the negotiated ceasefire for the East of the country. By contrast, both of the prorussischen separatists as well as Ukrainian side always notices.
Steinmeier said after a Meeting with President Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister Arseny Jazenjuk: “The world is waiting for it to progress. We can’t accept the fact that the agreed cease-fire repeatedly broken.” Also, the political agreements of Minsk would have to be implemented. At the beginning of March is supposed to be in Paris the next Meeting between the two foreign Ministers with their colleagues from Russia and the Ukraine take place.
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Majority lost
Jazenjuk had last week a vote of no confidence barely survived, but his majority in Parliament lost. The former Soviet Republic, which is also in a severe economic crisis, now controls elections. The time is urgent, said Steinmeier, referring to the International monetary Fund (IMF), the payout of bailout money in the billions because of the sluggish reforms already months before, had stopped.
Party-political “trench warfare” would have to be terminated, so Steinmeier. He demanded “signals of stabilization and also of the Reformwillens”. Thus, it would be “not about personal feelings or rivalries go”. This reminder could as an allusion to the strained relationship between Poroshenko and Jazenjuk to be evaluated.
“Zero Tolerance”
The foreign Minister called for strong support for a tougher fight against the widespread corruption. “There must be a policy that is driven by the principle: Zero tolerance for corruption.” His colleague, Ayrault said: “There are still a lot of work on the path of reforms. This requires Ukraine has a functioning government. The worst scenario would be halfway to stay – with a half-implemented reforms, and without prospects for the Donbass.”
Both visitors urged Ukraine to quickly an electoral law for the East of the country shall be provided. Kiev, however, insists that elections there, only then to be held in may, when the armed conflict is completely ended. Ayrault contradicted the Express: the earlier electoral law, the law, the more likely this would be to stabilize the situation.
jj/SC (dpa, afp, rtr)