Ukraine Peace Deal Signed Friday Feb 21,2014

A peace deal was signed Friday Feb 21,2014 between  Ukrainian  President  Viktor Yanukovich and opposition leaders calling for early presidential elections later in 2014, the formation of a coalition government and the ceding of some presidential powers to parliament

Ukraine's opposition leaders signed an EU-mediated peace deal with President Viktor Yanukovich on Friday, aiming to resolve a political crisis in which scores have been killed

 

 

The agreement signed Friday afternoon provided for passage within 48 hours legislation restoring the constitution of 2004, thus delegating many of the current presidential powers to parliament and restoring what critics say has been a lost balance of power.

The presidential elections, to be held no later than December 2014

The two sides also agreed that an objective investigation into the recent protester deaths would be conducted under monitoring by the opposition and the Council of Europe.

The agreement bound the opposition to hand over to authorities all illegal weapons within 24 hours as soon as a special law to that effect is passed

In another concession to the opposition, parliament fired Interior Minister Vitaly Zakharchenko, hated by protesters, whom he frequently referred to as extremists and who hold him responsible for numerous alleged crimes committed by the police against protesters

On behalf of the opposition, the agreement was signed by its leaders,Vitali Klitschko, Oleg Tyagnibok and Arseny Yatsenyuk.


The signing in the Presidential Administration building was witnessed by Polish and German foreign ministers and a high-ranking French diplomat

Vitali Klitschko and Olej Tjahnybok at the signing of the Agreement

Vitali Klitschko (left), leader of Ukraine's UDAR opposition party, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier (centre) and Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych (right) after the signing of the Agreement in the Presidential Palace on Friday Feb 21,2014

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Klitschko, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski and opposition leader Arseni Yatsenjuk stand after the signing of the accord

Ukraine's opposition leader Arseny Yatsenyuk (centre) applauds during a Parliament session in Kiev after an EU-mediated peace deal is signed in an attempt to end the political crisis

“In these tragic days when Ukraine suffered such heavy losses, when people died on both sides of the barricades, I consider it my duty in solemn memory of the slain to state that there is nothing more important than human life,” Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovich said in a statement published on his official website after the signing. “There are no such steps which we ought not to take together to restore peace in Ukraine.”

Shortly after the deal was signed, Ukraine's parliament approved the restoration of the 2004 constitution, which reduces the powers of the president.

All but one of the 387 MPs present voting in favour, including dozens of MPs from Mr Yanukovych's own Party of Regions.

Parliament also approved an amnesty for protesters accused of involvement in violence.

MPs voted for a change in the law which could lead to the release of Yulia Tymoshenko, an arch-rival of Viktor Yanukovych.

The Agreement Published by the German Foreign Ministry includes the following

• The 2004 constitution will be restored within 48 hours and a national unity government will be formed within 10 days
• Constitutional reform balancing the powers of president, government and parliament will be started immediately and completed by September
• A presidential election will be held after the new constitution is adopted but no later than December 2014, and new electoral laws will be passed
• An investigation into recent acts of violence will be conducted under joint monitoring from the authorities, the opposition and the Council of Europe
• The authorities will not impose a state of emergency and both the authorities and the opposition will refrain from the use of violence
• Both parties will undertake serious efforts for the normalisation of life in the cities and villages by withdrawing from administrative and public buildings and unblocking streets, city parks and squares
• Illegal weapons will be handed over to interior ministry bodies