Ukraine ambassador unhappy with position of CIS foreign ministers

After the crisis, Ukraine has repeatedly proposed that the foreign ministers of CIS member states should convene a meeting in Kiev, but the proposal was not met with approval, with foreign ministers citing busy schedule, Ukrainian Ambassador to Armenia Ivan Kukhta told reporters today, when commenting on reports about Ukraine’s intention to withdraw from the CIS.

“We changed the date of the meeting, but again it was not held. We then proposed holding a meeting at the level of deputy ministers. We would like to ask a question: Do we need such a structure? It is inappropriate to speak about a minister’s busy schedule in this situation,” Ivan Kukhta said.

Kukhta declined to draw a parallel between Nagorno Karabakh and Crimea. “It is the job of political scientists and expert,” he noted.

The Ukrainian ambassador declared that the upcoming referendum in Crimea is unconstitutional and contradicts international law.

“There is also the OSCE’s position on this issue,” he said.

Speaking about relations with Russia, Ivan Kukhta said that Kiev is ready to get down to negotiations with Moscow.

“We are prepared to grant Crimea greater autonomy. But this should be done by legal means and not through such a referendum,” he stressed.

Asked by reporters which Ukraine he represents in Armenia, Kukhta said: “The state of Ukraine. The state whose acting president is Alexander Turchinov and whose government was elected constitutionally”.