17:47
1.4.2014
RFE/RL's news desk has just issued a short item on the breaking news from Brussels:
NATO says it is suspending "all practical civilian and military cooperation" with Russia in response to Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea.
The decision was made by NATO foreign ministers at a meeting today in Brussels.
The ministers, however, said political dialogue with Moscow will continue within the NATO-Russia Council.
The NATO ministers also met todaywith Ukraine's acting foreign minister, Andriy Deshchytsya.
NATO said the ministers had agreed to intensify cooperation and promote defense reforms with Ukraine through training and other programs.
Earlier today, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen warned that the crisis in Ukraine risks creating "new dividing lines" in Europe.
He also said he had seen no evidence of a reported Russian troop pullback from areas bordering Ukraine.
The decision was made by NATO foreign ministers at a meeting today in Brussels.
The ministers, however, said political dialogue with Moscow will continue within the NATO-Russia Council.
The NATO ministers also met todaywith Ukraine's acting foreign minister, Andriy Deshchytsya.
NATO said the ministers had agreed to intensify cooperation and promote defense reforms with Ukraine through training and other programs.
Earlier today, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen warned that the crisis in Ukraine risks creating "new dividing lines" in Europe.
He also said he had seen no evidence of a reported Russian troop pullback from areas bordering Ukraine.
17:23
1.4.2014
!!! BREAKING NEWS !!!
Reports say NATO foreign ministers have agreed that the alliance should suspend all practical civilian and military cooperation with Russia in response to Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea.
17:17
1.4.2014
Ukraine's gay activists helped overthrow the anti-gay Yanukovych. Now they're facing a fresh obstacle: the EU itself http://t.co/xeNZgiwVKN
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) April 1, 2014
16:46
1.4.2014
We've jsut had a flurry of tweets from NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who has been meeting with foreign ministers from the alliance in Brussels today:
Today we celebrate Alliance enlargement. All 12 countries demonstrated strong commitment to defining values, making #NATO stronger
— AndersFogh Rasmussen (@AndersFoghR) April 1, 2014
#NATO helped spread freedom, peace and stability across Europe. Healed divisions of past and overcame conflicts that lasted for generations
— AndersFogh Rasmussen (@AndersFoghR) April 1, 2014
#NATO's door stays open to all European democracies which share our values, can assume responsibilities and can contribute to security
— AndersFogh Rasmussen (@AndersFoghR) April 1, 2014
16:41
1.4.2014
Some Crimea developments coming in from our news desk:
The Crimean Tatar self-government body has agreed to be a part of the territory's new government.
However, the resolution adopted by the Mejlis today said the Tatars still do not recognize Russia's annexation of the peninsula.
The resolution said Lenur Islyamov will serve as deputy prime minister in the government, and Zaur Smirnov will be chairman of the Committee on Nationalities and Deported Citizens.
The resolution emphasizes, however, that the Mejlis does not recognize "political, legislative, economic and other changes taking place in Crimea without the consent and approval" of Crimean Tatars.
According to the document, the Mejlis will in two weeks again consider whether to cooperate with the government.
The Mejlis said most Crimean Tatars boycotted the March 16 referendum in which Crimeans were asked whether the territory should join Russia.
However, the resolution adopted by the Mejlis today said the Tatars still do not recognize Russia's annexation of the peninsula.
The resolution said Lenur Islyamov will serve as deputy prime minister in the government, and Zaur Smirnov will be chairman of the Committee on Nationalities and Deported Citizens.
The resolution emphasizes, however, that the Mejlis does not recognize "political, legislative, economic and other changes taking place in Crimea without the consent and approval" of Crimean Tatars.
According to the document, the Mejlis will in two weeks again consider whether to cooperate with the government.
The Mejlis said most Crimean Tatars boycotted the March 16 referendum in which Crimeans were asked whether the territory should join Russia.
16:30
1.4.2014
2 latest must-have #Ukraine souvenirs: doormat with yanukovych's face and plastic replica of golden loaf of bread found at his mansion
— James Marson (@marson_jr) April 1, 2014
16:30
1.4.2014
Where Russian poets came to be initiated into poetry, to write, to love, to fight death w/ better climate, and to die http://t.co/169io6Qw70
— Paul Sonne (@PaulSonne) April 1, 2014
15:47
1.4.2014
RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service has just issued this video showing Ukrainian riot police surrounding the Dnipro Hotel in central Kyiv in the early hours of April 1 to disarm members of the ultranationalist Right Sector group who were staying there. Ukraine's interior minister ordered the action after an alleged shooting by a Right Sector member left three injured. Right Sector members left the hotel peacefully a few hours after the police deployment:
15:15
1.4.2014
Right of states to choose their course is fundamental for Europe & we must stand by it - my op-ed http://t.co/2Ty0LHvhqA #NATO
— AndersFogh Rasmussen (@AndersFoghR) April 1, 2014
15:01
1.4.2014
This just in from the wires:
Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko says her party has proposed the largest amnesty in Ukraine since the country obtained independence in 1991.
Talking to journalists in Kyiv today, Tymoshenko said the proposal will be debated in parliament next week.
According to her, up to 70,000 people may be released on the proposed amnesty.
Tymoshenko stated that "thousands of innocent owners of small and medium-sized businesses have been thrown behind bars" during Viktor Yanukovych's presidency for "their refusal to support then-ruling party," and those people must be released.
Tymoshenko, who was released from prison in late February after President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted by violent antigovernment protests, has been nominated by her Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) party for the presidency.
The upcoming presidential election is scheduled for May 25.
Talking to journalists in Kyiv today, Tymoshenko said the proposal will be debated in parliament next week.
According to her, up to 70,000 people may be released on the proposed amnesty.
Tymoshenko stated that "thousands of innocent owners of small and medium-sized businesses have been thrown behind bars" during Viktor Yanukovych's presidency for "their refusal to support then-ruling party," and those people must be released.
Tymoshenko, who was released from prison in late February after President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted by violent antigovernment protests, has been nominated by her Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) party for the presidency.
The upcoming presidential election is scheduled for May 25.