Ukrainian ambassador: Diplomacy can find a solution

ANKARA

Ukrainians believe that diplomacy can find a solution, Ukrainian Ambassador to Ankara, Dr. Sergiy Korsunsky said on Thursday.

"Ukraine is ready to make necessary reforms, as well as the U.S. and EU who will provide financial aid to the country," stated the Ukrainian ambassador.

Korsunsky outlined the Ukrainian point of view regarding the present events in Ukraine in an open forum at Atilim Univeristy in Ankara on Thursday.

Korsunsky also said there have been speculation on why Ukrainian military forces did not fire and did not protect themselves militarily when pro-Russians first seized government buildings in Crimea last month leading to a controversial referendum where Crimea voted to secede from Kiev in favor of unification with Moscow.

In the controversial referendum held on March 16,  Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law a bill that officially incorporated Crimea into the Russian Federation on March 21.

“The military know there is a law of war – if you have an enemy, who identifies himself as your enemy you can declare war, fire, but if you have people without any identification you cannot do anything,” said Korsunsky.

He stated that the country now has a second stage of Russian aggression against Ukraine.  “We have Russian special forces, very well trained, very well armed in the eastern part of Ukraine seizing buildings and trying to attack military installations.”

Now Pro-Russian rebels, who are demanding referendums on joining the Russian Federation, have seized buildings in about 10 towns and cities in eastern Ukrainian provinces.

Concerns about upcoming presidential elections

The Ukrainian ambassador said the government is concerned about the future presidential elections to be held on May 25 as it is unclear whether the Ukrainian people in Crimea are able to participate.

“But now they (Ukrainians in Crimea) are deprived from watching TV channels, learning in schools in the Ukrainian or Crimean Tatar language,“ he said.

The ambassador also informed that the Kiev National University in Ukraine will open a Crimean Tatar language department, as a special university in Crimea teaching the Crimean Tatar language has been closed after Russia annexed Crimea.

Flights to Crimea will not resume

Korsunsky states as the annexation is not recognized internationally, flights to Crimea from Kiev, Istanbul and several other cities have been suspended and no plans have been made for them to resume. However, Turkish Airlines is negotiating with Ukraine to fly to the city of Kherson, close to Crimea in the mainland of Ukraine, where a 1-hour bus drive will take passengers to Crimea.

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