German support for a negotiated resolution of the Ukrainian civil war.

[another_liberal]

Last edited Sat Aug 23, 2014, 03:09 PM - Edit history (2)

Finally a hint of some positive news regarding Ukraine and the end to Poroshenko's brutal civil war of an "anti-terror operation." Maybe soon no more fifteen-year-old girls will be getting their pathetic little arms blown off by Ukrainian Grad rocket batteries?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025422230

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko (R) meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Kiev August 23, 2014. (Reuters)

Merkel supports Ukraine power decentralization

German Chancellor Angela Merkel upholds the idea of the decentralization of power in Ukraine as a path to resolving the ongoing conflict in the east of the country, she said while on a visit to Kiev Saturday. Merkel said that Berlin backs the Kiev-proposed plan on decentralization as an important step needed to let Ukraine’s Russian speaking population feel more involved in the country’s affairs.

“What we [in Germany] mean by federalism is called decentralization in Ukraine. And that is what President [Petro Poroshenko] wants,” she told a joint media conference following the meeting with the Ukrainian leader. “It’s an important step to make the Russian population feel part of Ukraine and stay within Ukraine,” she said, as cited by RIA Novosti. In Merkel’s view, Ukraine should proceed with the decentralization plan. However, she noted, appealing to Germany’s experience would be wrong as there are certain difficulties. What Germans understood by federalism was seen very differently in Ukraine where it was linked to a greater degree of independence “that we don't want at all,” she said, according to Reuters.

Merkel’s comments came shortly after her Vice Chancellor, Social Democrat Sigmar Gabriel, spoke out for federalization to be introduced in Ukraine once the conflict in the east of the country is settled.

“The territorial integrity of Ukraine can only be maintained if an offer is made to the areas with a Russian majority,” Gabriel said in an interview with the Welt am Sonntag newspaper which coincided with Merkel’s visit to Kiev. “A clever concept of federalization seems to be the only practicable way,” the politician said. However, he added, a ceasefire should first be agreed.

(snip)

Read more at: http://rt.com/news/182356-merkel-visit-poroshenko-kiev/