Key points in Ukraine peace deal

[polly7]

By Staff Writers, teleSUR
teleSUR
Friday, Feb 13, 2015


Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L, front), Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko (2nd R, front), Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel (R, front) and France's President Francois Hollande (2nd L, front) walk during peace talks in Minsk, Feb. 11, 2015. | Photo: Reuters

With past agreements having failed to bring lasting peace, leaders hope this new agreement will stop the violence.

Ukrainian, German, French and Russian leaders reached a cease-fire deal Thursday to stem fighting between Ukrainian government forces and separatist rebels in the country's East, which has left over 5,000 people dead.

1. Immediate cease-fire in areas under control of rebels in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which will take effect at midnight local time on Feb. 15, 2015.

2. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe will monitor the cease-fire and the withdrawal of heavy weapons, which should occur within 14 days.

3. Heavy weapons with a caliber greater than 100 millimeters to be withdrawn in order to create a 50-kilometer safe zone.

4. On the day following troop withdrawal, discussions will be held to organize local elections in the area under rebel control, in accordance with Ukrainian law and the self-governing law approved in rebel-held areas in 2014.

5. A law providing pardons and amnesty that will prohibit the prosecution and punishment of people in connection to actions undertaken in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk shall be approved.

6. Parties are to guarantee the release and exchange of hostages and illegally-held prisoners, which should occur by the fifth day of the withdrawal.

7. The supply of humanitarian aid through international channels is to be guaranteed.

8. Determine the necessary conditions for the restoration of socioeconomic relations, including social services such as pensions.

9. Re-establish Ukrainian control of the Russian-Ukrainian border by the end of 2015.

10. Withdrawal of all foreign troops and the disarmament of all illegal armed groups under the supervision of Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

11. Constitutional reform with the aim of the decentralization of power in Ukraine by the end of 2015.

12. The organization of local elections in the Donestsk and Lugansk regions shall be done in cooperation with representatives from the regions and will follow norms established by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

13. Increased effort by Russia, France, and Germany to ensure the peace agreement is carried out.

http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/13-Key-Points-in-Ukraine-Peace-Deal-20150212-0039.html

[swilton]

1. Thanks for this post!

I didn't see Crimea mentioned - did I miss that? Or is that one of those devils that are in the details.

[polly7]

2. I don't see it either, but I think it's a done deal, don't you?

I mean, they voted and according to an article I read - the majority's standard of living has been raised and they're glad to be where they are. I'm not sure that could be turned back.

[MBS]

3. Maybe the Russians are happy,but

the Tatars (the one people who REALLY belong in the Crimea) are getting screwed once again.
Also, Ukrainian nationals aren't having such a good time, either.

[newthinking]

5. Not true. There was a group that linked with Al-qaida and declared Jihad

If you search the web there were already concerns about a growing fundamentalist theology before Crimea joined with Russia. An extremist tatar group linked with terrorists and there were calls for jihad. Nothing happened there that would not have happened here. The stories about it were not truthful.

Don't trust the media to give the full truth on these matters.


Crimean Tatars threaten terrorism

A number of Crimean Tatars have formed connections with the global jihadist network, having fought alongside rebels against Bashar al-Assad in Syria.

There is already chatter on jihadi internet forums and social media as to whether Russia's invasion of Crimea legitimizes it as a new militant front.

http://www.businessinsider.com/crimean-tatars-threaten-terrorism-2014-3

In fact, Russia has a more liberal policy in this regards and has had rehabilitative programs for Jihadists that denounce their former links and go through a probation, they can resume normal life. I don't think we have any such program in the US?

[SunSeeker]

4. The decentralization of power provision allows some autonomy for eastern Ukraine.

This will result in the ethnic cleansing of ethnic Ukrainians as ethnic Russians take over local political offices. Eventually, it will result in a de facto Russian annexation of eastern Ukraine, if not formal. But hopefully it will be a more gradual, less bloody process, unlike what happened when we handed Kosovo over to ethnic Albanians.

[polly7]

6. There seems to be a few who don't want this to happen:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026221045 by another_liberal

Ukrainian "Right Sector" leader vows to fight on despite negotiated ceasefire.

This is what happens when a country decides to arm neo-fascist ultra-nationalists, and allows them to become part of its national military as independent, volunteer units. Now Kiev not only has a civil war in its east against the Separatists of the Donetsk and Lugansk Republics, but it also has a potential neo-fascist rebellion brewing on the streets of its western cities.


Dmitriy Yarosh (center) head of Ukraines's Right Sector Party.

Ukraine ultranationalist leader rejects Minsk peace deal, reserves right 'to continue war'

Ukraine’s Right Sector leader Dmitry Yarosh said his radical movement rejects the Minsk peace deal and that their paramilitary units in eastern Ukraine will continue “active fighting" according to their "own plans."

The notorious ultranationalist leader published a statement on his Facebook page Friday, saying that his radical Right Sector movement doesn’t recognize the peace deal, signed by the so-called 'contact group' on Thursday and agreed upon by Ukraine, France, Germany and Russia after epic 16-hour talks.

Yarosh claimed that any agreement with the eastern militia, whom he calls “terrorists,” has no legal force. In his statement, Yarosh claimed that that the Minsk deal is contrary to Ukraine’s constitution, so Ukrainian citizens are not obliged to abide by it. Thus if the army receives orders to cease military activity and withdraw heavy weaponry from the eastern regions, the Right Sector paramilitaries, who are also fighting there “reserve the right” to continue the war, he said.

The Right Sector paramilitary organization continues to deploy its combat and reserve units, to train and logistically support personnel, while coordinating its activities with the military command of the Ukrainian army, paramilitary units of the Defense Ministry and the Interior Ministry, he said. Bluntly rejecting the German and French initiative, Yarosh said President Petro Poroshenko should have turned to the US or UK which “observe a consistent anti-Kremlin policy.”

(snip)

Read more, and view videos or Yarosh, at: http://rt.com/news/232183-ukraine-yarosh-war-minsk/

And tell me again why western powers are deciding to send more arms and 'trainers' to Ukraine's Kiev 'gov't'? What is in it for them, if all those involved above in the original OP want peace?