As delivered by Political Counselor Christopher Robbins to the Permanent Council
Vienna, January 30, 2014
The United States applauds Chairman-in-Office Burkhalter’s efforts to encourage a peaceful solution in Ukraine by offering OSCE expertise, assistance, and mediation. Sustained international engagement and support will be necessary to help bring about a successful political solution to this crisis.
We welcome the Government of Ukraine’s positive response to Chairman-in-Office Burkhalter and encourage it to take full advantage of the offer.
As President Obama declared in his State of the Union address on January 28, “in Ukraine, we stand for the principle that all people have the right to express themselves freely and peacefully, and to have a say in their country’s future.”
We welcome the steps taken by the Government of Ukraine during the January 28 parliamentary session to respond to legitimate concerns of the Ukrainian people, including the vote to repeal the most egregious of the anti-democratic laws passed on January 16. We call on the Government of Ukraine to continue working with the opposition and civil society to find compromises and a peaceful solution and to fully honor its OSCE commitments.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
RELATED STATEMENTS
Ukraine's Jan. 23 Statement on Current Political Situation in the Country (PDF 40KB)
U.S. Alarmed by Deaths of Demonstrators and Continued Violence in Kyiv, Ukraine (Jan. 23)
