Ukrainian Ambassador to Bulgaria Baltazhy in BTA Exclusive Interview: Now It Is Important to Fulfill Agreements


Sofia, February 13 (BTA) - What is important now is that the
agreements be kept, Ukrainian Ambassador here Mykola Baltazhy
said in an exclusive interview for BTA, adding that he is a
realist. Baltazhy was commenting on the ceasefire agreement
between Ukraine and the rebel-held areas which was signed on
Thursday in Minsk.

Ukraine has consistently been abiding by the previous Minsk
agreements, it is ready to continue to do so, but regrettably,
until now the paramilitary formations that are entirely
supported by Russia, did not abide by their obligations,
violated the ceasefire on many occasions, shot at residential
areas and innocent people and then blamed the Ukrainian forces
who are defending their fatherland, the diplomat added.

It is particularly important for Ukraine that this agreement
provides for the withdrawal of all foreign armed groups, weapons
 and mercenaries from Ukrainian territory. Full Ukrainian
government control will also be restored over the state border
with Russia, initially monitored by representatives of the OSCE
and, by the end of the year, by Ukrainian border guards with
which Ukrainian sovereignty will be restored, Baltazhy said.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said after the signing of
the agreement that no decisions for federalization or autonomy
had been accepted. There was pressure and even an ultimatum on
the Russian side, but Ukraine and the other participants in the
talks did not agree to that, the ambassador said. Those were
unprecedented, prolonged and difficult negotiations. The process
 of decentralization is yet to be filled with content and it
will give large-scale authority to the regions, but that will
not mean autonomy. Local elections will be held in the now
rebel-held regions, but these elections will be held according
to Ukrainian laws.

The most important difference between the previous Minsk
agreements of September and the present one is the level of
signatures, which is the highest, Baltazhy said. The leaders of
key European states have undertaken commitments, including
Russia (which is part of the problem), while Germany and France
are intermediaries in settling the military conflict. This is a
framework agreement, which affixes the most important steps
coordinated with the participants in the negotiations. There are
 things that should be done, that are necessary to restore the
country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Ukraine understands Bulgaria's concern about the fate of the
hundreds of thousands of Bulgarians who have been living in
Ukraine for two centuries. We do not separate our citizens
according to ethnic, religious or other principles. To defend
their homeland is the duty of every one of them. I would like to
 announce that the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin will
 visit Bulgaria soon and the matters related to the Bulgarians
in Ukraine will be among the main subjects of his talks in
Sofia. Bilateral relations, the situation in the region and in
Europe, as well as Ukraine's relations with the European Union
will also naturally be discussed, the Ambassador said.

Baltazhy asked the rhetorical question why Ukraine refuses to
negotiate with the separatists. Because the leaders of the
so-called Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics are terrorists.
 That is why the Ukrainian Parliament turned to the
international community with the request that they be declared
terrorist organisations. They commit military crimes every day
and every hour, the diplomat said. They also fooled a lot of
local people and turned them into hostages in the occupied
cities, deluding them that Ukrainian soldiers are shooting. 

The territories under the control of the separatists will have a
 special status which is yet to be defined. Ukraine suggests
that this be a free economic zone. The view of decentralization,
 which will also be reflected in the Constitution, includes a
number of things which will allow future local authorities, that
 will be elected through democratic - I repeat - democratic
elections aligned with Ukrainian laws, to operate without
coordination with the central authorities in the field of
economy, in humanitarian and other areas. Ukraine has always
wanted to have good neighborly relations with the Russian
Federation, Baltazhy said.

The issue of Crimea was not part of the Minsk negotiations. It
has not been discussed, but it has not been forgotten either. No
 one in Ukraine or the democratic world will recognize the
Anschluss of Crimea. Crimea is a temporarily occupied territory
and Ukraine will fight - not with tanks but with peaceful means
- to restore its sovereignty there, the Ambassador also said.