UNITED NATIONS
The United Nations Security Council has failed to reach a consensus on the Ukraine crisis despite having met for the fifth time in 10 days on Monday.
France’s UN Permanent Representative, Gérard Araud, told reporters after the meeting that the situation in Ukraine was "worsening by the day".
"The Russian army is reinforcing its presence in Crimea. The Russian army – as you know – now is besieging and storming installations of the Ukrainian army," Araud said.
He added that the upcoming referendum in Crimea was "very dangerous".
On March 6, Crimea’s regional parliament voted to join the Russian Federation, asking Moscow to begin a procedure for Crimea to become a constituent territory. It has scheduled a referendum on the issue for March 16.
"All the signals sent from Moscow are that Russia is ready to recognize the results of the referendum. So it is very dangerous," Araud said.
He stressed that the meeting was, in a sense, "a call to the Russians to avoid going down this road, and to enter into negotiations".
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement earlier on Monday appealing for an easing of tensions in Ukraine.
"I am increasingly alarmed by the developments in Ukraine. Since the beginning of this crisis, I have appealed to all parties to de-escalate tensions and to engage in direct and constructive dialogue in order to forge a peaceful way forward. Recent events in Crimea in particular have only served to deepen the crisis.
“As tensions and mistrust are growing, I urge all sides to refrain from hasty actions and provocative rhetoric," the statement read.
Ban called on the international community to help key actors to calm the situation and work towards a durable and fair political solution.
"A further deterioration of the situation would have serious repercussions for the people of Ukraine, the region and the global community," he said.
Ban also urged the relevant authorities to ensure that the human rights of all in Ukraine are respected, with particular attention to the rights and protection of minorities.
He underlined that a resolution of the crisis must be found on the basis of the U.N. Charter, including the peaceful settlement of disputes and respect for the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
U.K. Ambassador to the UN Mark Lyall Grant told reporters that there has been no "softening of Russia's position" in spite of the widespread consensus that the scheduled referendum is illegal.
"It is clear that a free and fair referendum cannot be organized when Crimea is controlled by Russian troops," he said.
Ban's spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, said that UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Simonovic was in Ukraine last week and met with acting prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. Simonovic is also scheduled to visit the Crimean city of Simferopol on Saturday, Dujarric said.
Yatsenyuk is to visit the UN as part of his U.S. visit this week during which he is scheduled to meet President Barack Obama.
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