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Ukraine’s sovereign rights must be protected
David
SHEARER
Foreign Affairs Spokesperson
3 March 2014
MEDIA STATEMENT
Ukraine’s sovereign rights
must be protected
Any further escalation of the situation in Ukraine could ultimately threaten the peace and security of Europe, says Labour’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson David Shearer.
“Given the seriousness of the situation we support the withdrawal of Tim Groser from negotiations over the free trade agreement with Russia.
“Ukraine's territorial integrity must be preserved and any foreign forces should leave the country immediately.
“New Zealand has always supported a system of international rules and laws that uphold a country's integrity and sovereignty. These are important principles that we stand by in this situation as we have done so in others.
“The prospect of a divided Ukraine is likely to lead to conflict and could have disastrous knock-on effects across Eastern Europe.
“Ukraine currently has an interim government and all countries should support the move to democratic elections so that a democratic Ukrainian Government can make its own decisions.
“It is essential too, that the rights of ethnic Ukrainians and Russian minorities are protected wherever they live,” says David Shearer.
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