In its final document, the Assembly of Members of Parliaments of Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine expressed support for Ukraine and voiced concern over the threat posed by the Astravyets NPP and the developments in Belarus

Press release, 28 March 2017

Photo of the Senate of the Republic of Poland

Convening in its 8th session, the Assembly of Members of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, the Sejm and Senate of the Republic of Poland, and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine signed the Final Document, which expressed concerns over the ongoing occupation of Crimea lasting for over three years now and the intentions of the Russian Federation to further escalate the armed conflict it had brought about in eastern Ukraine. The Final Document also expressed serious concern about the violent response of the Belarusian authorities to public protests in the country.

 

The Final Document attracts attention to the threat posed to the security of the whole region by the construction of the nuclear power plant in Astravyets.

 

The parliamentarians called on the EU institutions and Member States to support measures to counter the bursts of misinformation and propaganda, and, in particular, to strengthen independent and objective media coverage in the Russian language. Attention was also drawn to the need to carefully examine cyber threats and develop effective countermeasures.

 

In its Final Document, the Parliamentary Assembly confirmed its support for Ukraine’s full sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, and called on the Russian Federation to end the occupation of Crimea and stop violations of human rights of the people of Crimea.

 

The Assembly agreed to send a letter addressed to the parliaments of the Member States of the European Union and the United States Congress encouraging them to initiate and implement common initiatives of the Western community in support of Ukraine, as well as to organise and coordinate joint visits. The Assembly called for the earliest possible full implementation of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine and completion of the visa waiver procedure for Ukrainian citizens.

 

The Assembly addressed the Belarusian authorities calling on them to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms as the foundations on which the European Union is willing to build its relations with Belarus. The Assembly also called on the Belarusian authorities to immediately release all detained persons.

 

The Final Document was signed by Viktoras Pranckietis, Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, Stanisław Karczewski, President of the Senate of the Republic of Poland, and Andrii Parubii, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

 

Valdas Sinkevičius, Adviser, Public Relations Unit, Information and Communication Department, Office of the Seimas, tel.+370 5 239 6211, e-mail: [email protected]