Business leaders from Russia, Ukraine, Europe, U.S. propose 10-point peace plan for Ukraine
KYIV. Sept 15 (Interfax) - The conflict in Ukraine must be tackled with the participation of Russia, the European Union and the United States, and Ukraine must be provided with guarantees of international security and sovereignty in exchange for a policy of military nonalignment similar to the policy pursued by Finland, Sweden and Switzerland, says a statement signed by Russian, Ukrainian European and American business leaders.
The ten-point plan was proposed at the World Economic Forum, at a meeting initiated by WEF founder Klaus Schwab on September 14.
Among the businessmen and two WEF leaders, who signed this document, are the heads of Rusnano, Sberbank , VTB Bank and Severstal. Ukraine was represented by Horizon Capital head Natalia Yaresko, the head of the Donetsk regional administration Serhiy Taruta, Easy One Group owner Viktor Pinchuk and KM Core head Yevgeni Utkin. Among other signatories are the heads of BASF, EY, PepsiCo, Alcoa, Siemens and European Investment Bank.
The businessmen deem it reasonable for Ukraine to conclude trade agreements with both the European Union and Russia and, in the future, possibly with the Eurasian Economic Union. They also proposed that while introducing sanctions and counter-sanctions a mechanism of their cancellation should be worked out in case the situation improves, as well as a plan for economic rehabilitation of the conflict zone, encouraging all parties to invest in the region.
The businessmen support the 12-point Minsk ceasefire plan and the creation of a modern security system in the conflict territory under the aegis of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and urge the non-use of bellicose language, intensified dialogue in Ukraine at a national level, decentralization, and guarantees of the rights of minorities, including language minorities.
Guided by the desire to promote the peace process the participants in the meeting proposed the earliest possible organization of a meeting of prominent political leaders in Geneva with the participation of the top leaders of Ukraine, Russia, the European Union and the United States.
In the middle of August, 16 business leaders of Ukraine Russia and Europe met to urge their governments to find a peaceful solution to the current conflict.
