G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting April 10-11, 2016 Hiroshima, Japan Joint Communiquй
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Ukraine / Russia
We stand united in our conviction that the
conflict in Ukraine can only be solved by diplomatic means and in full respect
for international law, especially the legal obligation to respect Ukraine's
sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence. We reiterate our
condemnation of the illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula by Russia in
violation of international law and reaffirm our policy of its non-recognition
and sanctions against those involved.
We emphasize our strongest support for full
implementation of the Minsk agreements, and the work of the Normandy format and
the Trilateral Contact Group, which are aimed at securing peaceful resolution
to the conflict in eastern Ukraine. We are concerned by continued violence along
the line of contact in violation of the ceasefire; we urge all sides to take
concrete steps that will lead to the complete ceasefire required under the
Minsk agreements. We reiterate our call on all sides to assume their
responsibilities fully and completely fulfill their commitments under the Minsk
agreements without delay, including local elections held in accordance with
relevant Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) standards
and Ukrainian legislation and monitored by OSCE/ODHIR, the complete withdrawal
of all foreign armed formations and equipment from the territory of Ukraine,
the return of Ukrainian control over its side of the international border, and
safe access and provision of humanitarian aid to people in need. In particular,
we expect Russia to live up to its commitments and use its influence over the
separatists to meet their commitments under the Minsk agreements in full.
We emphasize the OSCE's key role in helping to
deescalate the crisis through the Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) as well as
the Observer Mission and within the Trilateral Contact Group and commend the
OSCE for its constructive response to the Minsk agreements. We deplore actions
that impede the OSCE's work and access and call upon all sides, particularly
the separatist groups to provide the organization's
monitors full and unfettered access
throughout the conflict zone. In this regard, we call on Russia to use its
influence to provide for the necessary environment for OSCE/SMM to effectively
carry out its task. We call on all OSCE participating states to provide the
organization with all support necessary to fulfill these responsibilities in
order that such actions cease.
We recall that the duration of sanctions is
clearly linked to Russia's complete implementation of the Minsk agreements and
respect for Ukraine's sovereignty. We recognize the importance of maintaining
dialogue with Russia in order to ensure it abides by the commitments it has
made as well as international law and to reach a comprehensive, sustainable and
peaceful solution to the crisis.
Furthermore, we remain concerned by the ongoing
disinformation campaigns in the Russian state-controlled media as well as the
growing pressure on political and civil society figures voicing disagreement
with the course being taken by the Russian government.
We remain fully committed to Ukraine's reform
agenda, and to providing long-term support to this end. We commend and support
the steps Ukraine is taking to implement comprehensive structural reforms and
urge Ukraine to maintain the momentum and continue to take the difficult
decisions, especially in the fight against corruption where concrete progress
is required. We will continue to work together with the international financial
institutions and other partners to provide financial and technical assistance.
A stable political situation in Kyiv is key to those
essential reforms. We welcome the ongoing efforts of the G7 Ukraine Support
Group and ask the G7 Ambassadors in Kyiv to continue the platform for dialogue
and coordination between G7 countries and the Ukrainian authorities.
Energy security remains an important issue for
Ukraine and the world. We remain committed to the Rome G7 Energy Initiative for
Energy Security to build a more diverse and resilient international energy
system.
European Union
See more: http://eeas.europa.eu/statements-eeas/2016/160411_02_en.htm