Lübeck, 15 April 2015
We reiterate our full support for the diplomatic
efforts of the Normandy format and the Trilateral Contact Group and welcome the
Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements of
12 February 2015 agreed by the Trilateral Contact Group and endorsed
by UNSC Resolution 2202. We welcome the initial steps to implement the package,
but note the need for substantial and rapid progress on outstanding elements.
We stand united in our conviction that the conflict in Ukraine can only be
solved by diplomatic means and in full respect for international law,
especially the legal obligation to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial
integrity and independence.
We call on all sides to fully assume their
responsibility and to implement their commitments under the Minsk agreements.
Further and verifiable progress is required in particular as regards respect
for the ceasefire and withdrawal of heavy weapons. We expect in particular
Russia to use its considerable influence over the separatists to meet their
Minsk commitments in full. In this respect, the G7 underlines the close linkage
between full implementation of the Minsk Agreements and international
sanctions. Sanctions are not an end in themselves; their duration should be
clearly linked to Russia’s complete implementation of the Minsk agreements and
respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty. We also expect Russia to take effective
measures against trans-border support of separatist fighters. We will continue
to closely monitor the situation.
We emphasise the OSCE’s key role in helping deescalate
the crisis through the Special Monitoring Mission as well as the Observer
Mission and within the Trilateral Contact Group and commend the OSCE for its
constructive response to the Minsk package. We call on all OSCE participating
States to help provide the organisation with all support necessary to fulfil
these responsibilities.
We welcome the support given at the Normandy Foreign Ministers’
Meeting in Berlin on April 13 to the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission and to the
representative of the OSCE Chair for the swift establishment of working groups
of the Trilateral Contact Group in order to start the political process needed
to overcome the conflict.
We reiterate our condemnation of Russia’s illegal
annexation of Crimea more than a year ago in violation of international law and
reaffirm our policy of its non-recognition and sanctions against those
involved. Furthermore, we are concerned by the ongoing disinformation campaigns
in the Russian state-controlled media as well as the growing pressure on
political and civil society figures voicing disagreement with the course being
taken by the Russian government.
Recalling the G7 The Hague Declaration of
24 March 2014, we recognise the importance of maintaining dialogue
with Russia, in particular to working towards a comprehensive, sustainable and
peaceful solution to the crisis in eastern Ukraine.
We commend the commitment of the Ukrainian government
to extensive and sustainable reforms and support Ukraine in overcoming the
economic crisis and rebuilding its economy. The Extended Arrangement under the
Extended Fund Facility (EFF) agreed between the IMF and the government of
Ukraine is an important basis for reform efforts in Ukraine and provides an
anchor for the international efforts to support the stabilisation of the
country. We underline the importance of meaningful and effective structural
reforms in Ukraine, including constitutional reform with a particular emphasis
on decentralisation/local government reform, and of continued efforts by the
government to fight corruption, notably through the vigorous implementation of
the package of anti-corruption laws adopted last year and the establishment of
the new national Anti-Corruption-Bureau.
We call on Ukraine to continue to
successfully implement its ambitious reform agenda in line with IMF
conditionality, Ukraine’s World Bank Programme (WBP) and the EU-Ukraine
Association Agreement. Both the reform programme and its swift implementation
will boost confidence in the Ukrainian economy and political determination to
accomplish further reforms. We are looking forward to learn more about
Ukraine’s reform efforts at the upcoming EU-Ukraine Summit (Kyiv, April 27) and
the International Support for Ukraine Conference (Kyiv, April 28).
Energy security remains an important issue for
Ukraine. We welcome efforts of the trilateral talks of EU, Ukraine and Russia
to reach a sustainable agreement for gas deliveries. At the same time, we
commend efforts by Ukraine to reform the energy sector, to diversify energy
supply and to increase energy efficiency. We remain committed to the Rome G7
Energy Initiative to build a more diverse and resilient international energy
system.
We reiterate our support for the multinational effort
to secure and return to an environmentally safe condition at the site of the
Chernobyl nuclear accident. We are committed to make the conference of donors
to be held in London on April 29th a success and to take our responsibility to
bring the projects to a successful completion.
We welcome the renewed efforts by the G7 Global
Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons of Mass Destruction (Global
Partnership) to work closely with Ukraine on funding programmes in the areas of
chemical, biological, nuclear and radiological security.
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