No More Talks in Belarus, Ukrainian Politicians Say

Kyiv intends to initiate new place for meetings of the contact group on Ukraine.

The reason is a Belarus' attempt to block the resolution discussion on human rights in Crimea and Sevastopol on November 15 during the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly.

Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Verkhovna Rada Anna Gopko stated that when answering questions of Ezhednevnik.

"The voting of November 15 was negative for us. Especially after talks at the highest level, and taking into account that Belarus itself has always positioned itself as a promoter of the regional security: the country that is used as the ground for negotiations and the territory, which will never jeopardise your neighbouring NATO countries and Ukraine. So, intensification of military exercises with Russia, drawing closer of mechanized brigades to the border with Belarus raise our concern and imperfect understanding," Anna Gopko stated.

It will be recalled that the resolution on Crimea was adopted by delegates of the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly (73 votes - "pro", 23 votes "against", 76 - abstained from voting).

According to Anna Gopko, the very fact of the resolution approval is very positive.

"In accordance with the document, Russia is occupant; the Crimea is temporarily occupied territory. It contains the requirement to allow international observers to the Crimea. This may be a UN Commissioner for human rights, or representatives of the Council of Europe. Plus now Crimea has the mandate of the OSCE special monitoring mission," the head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Verkhovna Rada says. She stressed that that resolution reinforced the legal ground of Ukraine for subsequent lawsuits in international courts.

It is extremely important for Ukraine, Anna Gopko says.

"And if we call Minsk a neutral ground for talks, the recent voting proves the opposite," the deputy stated.

She recalls that in December there will be the final adoption of the resolution by the UN General Assembly. And if Belarus confirms its position voting against the document, Kyiv will take appropriate measures.

"Today we use different means to signal the Belarusian side that the December voting will be a test. Later (I'm not able to voice some information) Ukraine considers other countries as the ground for tripartite meetings of the contact group, which now meets in Minsk. We understand that Russia should approve it, but the voting on the resolution will be an occasion to raise the issue," Anna Gopko stressed.

"Minsk may lose the status of the negotiating platform, its decision is inspired by external influence, position of other country. I am not aware of any bargaining and why Belarus acted that way. All other statements Belarus proved that Belarus respected the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine," the head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Verkhovna Rada says.

Anna Gopko was not impressed by the argument of the Foreign Ministry of Belarus that "the position of the Republic of Belarus on Ukraine remains the same" and that our country spoke against the very practice of adoption of country-based resolutions:

"Do you know the result of voting of 2014 year (the first resolution of the UN General Assembly on Crimea, which promoted the territorial integrity of Ukraine, Belarus voted against its adoption - Ezhednevnik's note)? If it was the only case..."

Anna Gopko noted that Belarus might change its position when voting at the UN General Assembly in December. Although she recognizes that countries usually do not change their decisions voiced in the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly.