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<h1>OSCE representative presents statement about Ukraine</h1>
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<p>The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities has been closely
following developments in Ukraine since the office was established in
1993 to act as an instrument of conflict prevention at the earliest
stage. The successive High Commissioners have paid particular attention
to the inter-ethnic situation in Crimea, legislation regulating minority
rights and language use, and the education of national minorities.</p>
<p>The High Commissioner’s mandate requires that she works behind the
scenes and in confidence. She therefore issues few public statements.
This statement provides an update on her most recent visits. Currently,
High Commissioner Astrid Thors’ main concerns are language policy and
the situation in Crimea.</p>
<p>Thors visited Kyiv, Donetsk, Luhansk and Odessa from 23 to 28 March
2014, and Kiev from 1 to 3 April. She made an earlier visit, which also
included a trip to Crimea, on 4 to 6 March as part of a high-level OSCE
delegation together with Ambassador Tim Guldimann, the Special Envoy of
the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office. Her office is also contributing to a
Human Rights Assessment Mission, in co-operation with the OSCE Office
for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.</p>
<p>During her most recent two visits, Thors was pleased to hear that the
interim Government does not intend to make any hasty decisions
regarding language policy. “There can be no doubt that the 2012 Law on
the ‘Principles of the State Language Policy’ remains in force, and,
legally, nothing has changed regarding the status of languages,” she
said. “Therefore, there is no need for the Ukrainian Parliament to rush
to make any new decisions. I hope that all political forces can adhere
to this opinion.”</p>
<p>She reiterated her comments made in her public statement of 24
February [<a href="http://www.osce.org/hcnm/115643">www.osce.org/hcnm/115643</a>] that, to avoid increasing tensions,
the authorities should ensure that the concerns of all ethnic and
linguistic groups are taken into account and that consultations also
encompass international organizations to ensure that any new language
legislation meets European standards. She added that time is also needed
to evaluate the merits and shortcomings of the 2012 Language Law, as
well as its implementation in practice.</p>
<p>The High Commissioner has been able to speak to a wide range of
interlocutors to assess the situation on the ground. She expressed
particular concern that she heard a lot of conflicting impressions that
are contributing to a climate of fear and confusion. Contradictory
information leads to an “information war”. Any measures taken to
restrict access to cross-border transmission of media should strictly
comply with international standards, as stated by the OSCE
Representative on Freedom of the Media [<a href="http://www.osce.org/fom/116888">www.osce.org/fom/116888</a>]. In
addition, many people told her they are concerned about security and the
presence of militarized groups with an unclear status. Thors commended
the interim Government’s efforts to address the security issues in the
country, including the disarmament of armed groups that exist outside of
the legal framework, in order to combat such perceptions.</p>
<p>Thors also remains concerned about the situation in Crimea. Following
her statement on 6 March [<a href="http://www.osce.org/hcnm/116180">www.osce.org/hcnm/116180</a>], the High
Commissioner reminded the authorities in effective control of Crimea
that they remain responsible for the human rights, including minority
rights, of all persons residing on the peninsula. “The people in Crimea,
in particular the Crimean Tatars and the Ukrainian community, are in a
precarious position. I urge the authorities in effective control to
refrain from actions that exclude people from employment in the public
and private sectors or force them to give up their property.”</p>
<p>She again drew particular attention to The Bolzano/Bozen
Recommendations on National Minorities in Inter-State Relations, which
state that while a State might have an interest in supporting persons
belonging to national minorities in other States, “no State may exercise
jurisdiction over the population or part of the population of another
State within the territory of that State without its consent” because
“the respect for and protection of minority rights is primarily the
responsibility of the State where the minority resides.”</p>
<p><strong>Astrid Thors</strong><br><strong>OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities</strong><br><strong>The Hague, 4 April 2014</strong></p>
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