Ukraine crisis: Diplomacy gathers pace ahead of talks

US Secretary of State John Kerry has begun talks with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Paris to try to resolve the crisis in Ukraine.

The US wants independent observers in the flashpoint region of Crimea and direct talks between Kiev and Moscow.

Russia is likely to call for greater representation for Ukraine's Russian-speaking areas in the Kiev government.

The EU earlier offered 11bn euros ($15bn; £9bn) in aid to Ukraine and froze the assets of 18 Ukrainians.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the package of loans and grants over the next couple of years was "designed to assist a committed, inclusive and reforms-oriented government" in Kiev.

Ukraine's finance ministry has predicted it needs $35bn to rescue its economy.

In other developments in Ukraine:

• The national flag is once again flying over the administrative headquarters in Donetsk, replacing the Russian flag hoisted there five days ago. The building was evacuated after an apparent bomb threat
• In Crimea, pro-Russian demonstrators have turned away families bringing food and supplies to Ukrainian troops refusing to surrender their bases
• Russian forces have seized two Ukrainian missile-defence sites in Crimea, according to unconfirmed reports

Nato and Russia are also due to hold parallel talks in Brussels.

The Paris gathering is being seen above all as a chance to test the waters for a dialogue about Ukraine, says the BBC's diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall.

But UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said the Russians had already failed to appear at one meeting with the Ukrainians in Paris so he was "not optimistic" of making progress later.

"If we cannot make progress on that course there will be costs and consequences," he said, in reference to a threat of sanctions by the US and EU.

 

Troops believed to be Russian servicemen are in control of Ukrainian military bases in Crimea

 

Mourners at Kiev's Independence Square remember the 88 protesters who died in clashes with police

Donetsk's regional government headquarters was emptied of pro-Russian activists

Earlier, Mr Lavrov underlined Moscow's differences with Western nations, accusing them of setting a bad example by supporting protesters - some of whom now make up the government - in their "armed coup d'etat".

Russian FM Sergei Lavrov accused protesters of conducting an "armed coup-d'etat"

This agreement included constitutional reform that would fully take into account the interests of all regions of Ukraine - giving the Russian-speaking areas in the east more influence and greater legal protection.

This, says the BBC's Richard Galpin in Moscow, would give Russia more leverage over the future direction of Ukraine.

Moscow has strongly condemned the recent change of government in Ukraine, which came after months of street protests, more than 90 deaths and the flight of President Yanukovych, a Russian ally.

Since his fall, Moscow has retained de facto control of Ukraine's southern autonomous region of Crimea.

Pro-Russian troops in unmarked uniforms began taking control of strategic points on Saturday.

Troops are surrounding Ukrainian military bases and other installations, while two Ukrainian warships are reported to be blocked by a Russian ship in Sevastopol's harbour.

Posted By :: Muhammad Usman

Source::BBC

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Imran to take up arms if Taliban try to impose their system

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday said he would take up a gun, stand by the army and fight the Taliban if they wanted to impose their system on the country.He said his party was the first to push for dialogue with the Taliban and the fact that they had announced a ceasefire vindicated its stance that talksshould be the first option.
Addressing the first meeting of the PTI provincial council at the Aiwan-e-Iqbal, the party chairman said the PTI never proposed that those who wanted to rule the country on the basis of the gun should be allowed to do so as it had called for separating the violent forces and the peace lovers.

Imran also congratulated the party’s provincial leadership and said that a new political culture in Pakistan was being introduced by the Punjab PTI in which democracy within parties would become possible. He said that the provincial council would act as a supreme body to decide the future of the largest province in Pakistan.

Appreciating the PTI’s performance in Punjab, Imran said the fact that the PTI had won by-elections on the seats vacated by the PML-N, especially those by Shahbaz Sharif and Zulfiqar Khosa, meant that it was proving to be the real opposition to the PML-N. He said that despite the ‘35 punctures in the general elections’, the PP-81 by-poll in Jhang would be a very good contest for PTI if the government did not go for more punctures there through rigging.

Earlier, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the Punjab PTI performance in the general elections and fight for the case of local bodies on a party basis was amazing.PTI Provincial President Ejaz Chaudhry said that the party was a common man’s party as its chairman was not a landlord or a trader but a sportsman who had given up his comfortable life to serve humanity by social work and through his political agenda of change.

Punjab PTI Secretary Information Andleeb Abbass unveiled the plan for turning the PTI into an institution by carrying out an ISO-9001 audit and bringing it up to international standards of systems and procedures.

Later, the provincial council presented four resolutions which promised raising the issue of water scarcity, pressing the case for labour rights and protesting against unfair privatisation, raising its voice for protecting women and children from violence and ensuring equal treatment to minorities in every aspect of life.

During the gathering, Imran Khan also took oath from nearly 600 members from 36 districts of Punjab.INP adds: Terming the announcement by the TTP as the foundation of peace in the country, Imran asked the government to start a dialogue with the Taliban without any fear and reservations.

Talking to Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Mian Mahmoodur Rashid and other MPAs, he added that the hostile forces wanted the armed forces to fight with their people.Earlier, Imran took serious notice of some MPAs’ absence from the meeting and directed that the absentees be informed about the meeting’s decisions.

He said the country was filled with ‘Mir Jaafars and Mir Saadiqs’. Khan said the MQM, ANP, PMLN and PPP are all afraid of his party. He said those who sabotaged the negotiations process needed to be monitored closely.

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Govt reciprocates Taliban's ceasefire

Interior minister Ch Nisar said all aerial military activities will be suspended.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Following Taliban’s ceasefire move, government of Pakistan has decided to reciprocate by halting aerial military activities against Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Dunya News reported.
According to a statement issued by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar, government has suspended all military activities against the outlawed outfit after announcing the ceasefire.
Formally announcing the ceasefire, Ch Nisar said government regards Taliban’s ceasefire as a positive development.
It is pertinent to mention here that TTP announced a ceasefire on Saturday for a month.
According to reports, Taliban commanded all subgroups to ‘respect’ the ceasefire.
Shahidullah Shahid claimed that government has responded positively to TTP’s recommendations and have assured implementation.
Talking to Dunya News, Taliban committee member Yousaf Shah confirmed the reports saying breaking of the ice is a positive development.
Reportedly, Interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has telephoned Taliban committee patron Samiul Haq who is in Madina to perform religious rituals. According to the reports, Taliban and government committees will meet in next two days.
Government’s committee member Irfan Siddiqui while speaking to Dunya News said they have not received official reports of the development yet and that their source for now is the media. Commending the move, Siddiqui said that government committee welcomes the move and that this is a positive development. He termed the move as step in the right direction.
Government committee and other political figures have been urging Taliban to announce unconditional ceasefire to farther the peace talks.
Talks with Taliban were halted last month following their claiming responsibility of killing 23 rangers.

Posted By::: Muhammad usman

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Taliban announce ceasefire for a month

ISLAMABAD/SHABQADAR: The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) announced a ceasefire asking all its affiliates to put a halt to all sorts of ‘Jihadi’ activities for a period of one month.
This was conveyed in a short statement by the group’s spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid, sent to the media.
Shahid, citing the positive developments in peace talks, said that the government has given a nod to the demands put forward by the mediation committee representing the Taliban and it was ensured that the demands will be met.
“The TTP is a responsible organisation which works through the consensus of a higher council and an Amir for decision making,” says the statement, adding that “the decision has been taken in view of the appeal made by the ulema, in honour of the representative committee and for the betterment of Islam and the country.”
Shahid announced this while asking all groups affiliated with the TTP to halt activities for a month’s time.
However, the concluding paragraph of the statement stresses that the government should take the negotiations process seriously and keep the talks away from mundane politics.
Rustam Shah Mohmand, one of the members of the TTP mediation committee, told The Express Tribune that he hoped that the period of a month’s ceasefire will be extended as well.
He warned that there might be some groups who are not in favour of peace talks, adding that “we must ignore them and continue with the peace process.”

                 Posted By :::Muhammad Usman

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