Strasbourg, 03.04.2014 – The Council of Europe Ministers' Deputies continued to discuss the situation in Ukraine at their meeting on 2 and 3 April with the participation of the country's acting foreign minister, Andrii Deshchytsia. In particular, the minister reiterated Ukraine's commitment to implement reforms so as to reinforce protection of human rights and the democratic functioning of the country's institutions in line with Council of Europe values.

The Ministers' Deputies welcomed the Secretary General's proposals for immediate support measures for Ukraine, notably through the Venice Commission.

They also took note of an ad hoc report prepared at their request by the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, following a visit by a committee delegation to Ukraine from 21 to 26 March 2014.

In view of the concerns raised in this report, in particular regarding the safety of persons belonging to national minorities, the Deputies called on the parties concerned effectively to guarantee the rights of all such persons throughout Ukraine, not least in Crimea. They invited the Advisory Committee to continue monitoring the situation of national minorities all over Ukraine, including in Crimea, by all available means.

The Deputies also underlined that the illegal referendum of 16 March and the ensuing, also illegal, annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation could in no way constitute a basis for any change in the status of Crimea and of the city of Sebastopol.