Estonian FM pledges support to Ukraine
TALLINN. March 14 (Interfax) - Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet pledged support to the Kyiv wish for peaceful resolution of the Crimean situation with due account of Ukraine's territorial integrity at a meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsya at the UN New York headquarters.
The Estonian Foreign Ministry press service quoted Paet to Interfax on Friday as saying that the European Union must help Ukraine overcome the crisis and pressure Russia with the purpose of termination of the conflict.
Paet said the EU foreign ministers would meet again on Monday to discuss support to Ukraine and restrictive measures on Russia.
Estonia is ready to support Ukraine's internal stabilization efforts and reforms aimed to build a strong law-governed state, Paet said.
Estonia and foreign ministers of other EU states have firmly supported the international assistance package, which may satisfy the urgent needs of Ukraine, Paet said.
He noted that Estonia denied recognition to the Crimean referendum on accession to Russia, which had been planned for Sunday, as the referendum contravened the Ukrainian constitution and was to be held in the region where foreign forces had been deployed.
A repeal of the Russian parliament resolution, which permitted to send armed forces to Ukraine, should also be demanded, the Estonian minister said.
He urged the soonest permanent presence of OSCE monitors in Ukraine.
Yatsenyuk stressed the importance of the international public's input in the reduction of Russia's pressure on Ukraine. Deshchytsya expressed hope for the soonest signing of the Ukraine-EU association agreement.
