Ban welcomes Geneva talks on Ukraine, warns situation still "extremely volatile"

NEW YORK, April 18 (KUNA) -- UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon late Thursday welcomed the initial round of diplomatic negotiations on the crisis in Ukraine, held earlier in the day in Geneva, and urged all sides to remain engaged in "good faith" as the situation remains "extremely volatile," his press office said in a statement.
Ban is "encouraged that all parties were able to agree on a number of concrete and urgent steps aimed at de-escalating the situation and finding a peaceful resolution to this crisis," the statement said, adding that he has consistently underscored that "constructive and results-oriented dialogue between all concerned will be the only way to achieve a peaceful solution." Nevertheless, Ban stressed that the situation in Ukraine remains "extremely volatile," and expects all sides, moving forward, to show their "serious intention to continue to engage, in a good-faith effort and to implement the steps laid out in the Geneva Statement, which will contribute to a lasting solution to this crisis." Russia and Ukraine, backed by the US and EU representatives, reportedly agreed during the Geneva meeting on a series of steps to de-escalate tensions in eastern Ukraine. Among the steps were demobilizing militias and vacating seized government buildings.
Assistant Secretary General for Human rights Ivan Simonovic briefed the Security Council late Wednesday on his two trips to Ukraine last month, and emphasized the strong links between chronic human rights violations in Ukraine, the Maidan protests and the tensions in the eastern part of the country.
Tensions flared during the last few days in a number of cities in eastern Ukraine where pro-Russian demonstrators seized government buildings and demanded a referendum to secede from Ukraine, bringing to memory the same scenario that took place last month in Ukrainian Crimea which was eventually annexed by Russia. (end) sj.hb