I would like to emphasize that the so-called “referendum” in Crimea on 16 March 2014 is illegitimate, violating the Constitution of Ukraine and international law, and thus its consequences are legally null and void. The decision of the Verkhovna Rada of Crimea on the so-called “referendum” has been suspended by the Acting President of Ukraine.

Numerous efforts have been undertaken on the top political level of world leaders to deescalate the crisis and seek its peaceful resolution with full respect to sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Numerous meetings in different formats have been held in the OSCE in view of the urgency to address the evolving conflict in Ukraine’s territory of Crimea that stemmed from violation by the Russian Federation of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine through illegal aggressive actions there of the Russian armed forces.

We have witnessed broad international condemnation of the actions of the Russian Federation that violate imperative norms of international law, the Helsinki Final Act, bilateral and multilateral agreements signed between Ukraine and the Russian Federation; actions that undermine the very foundation of European and global peace and security. Russia is the only Security Council member opposing the resolution on de-escalation and preserving territorial integrity of Ukraine.  US, EU impose massive sanctions on Russian officials.

I am confident that everything possible needs to be done to preserve close ties and friendship between the peoples of Ukraine and the Russian Federation which is in the long-term interests of our two countries. We appeal to Russia not to destroy the bounds that connect our peoples.

The Ukrainian Side highly appreciates the constructive position of the Republic of Cyprus that supports Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, principles on which the Republic continues to fight its own struggle for a political settlement, which would reunite the country, divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion.

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