Saturday, September 6, 2014

Ukraine: Guns Fall Silent as Ceasefire is Implemented

Gunfire fell silent in military-held regions of Ukraine today as the president declared a ceasefire after nearly five months of conflict in the nation's east.
President Petro Poroshenko said he ordered government forces to stop hostilities at 6pm local time following a protocol signed by representatives of Ukraine, Russia, the rebels and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
'I count on this agreement, including the ceasing of fire and the freeing of hostages, to be precisely observed,' Poroshenko said in a statement.
Human life is the highest value. We must do everything possible and impossible to end the bloodshed and put an end to people's suffering,' he added.
Heidi Tagliavini of the OSCE told reporters the deal reached at talks in the Belarusian capital of Minsk consisted of 12 points but she did not immediately spell them out before heading back into the talks.
'The cease-fire will allow us to save not only civilians lives, but also the lives of the people who took up arms in order to defend their land and ideals,' said Alexander Zakharchenko, the rebel leader from the Donetsk region.
But Igor Plotnitsky, the insurgent leader for the Luhansk region, told reporters 'this doesn't mean that our course for secession is over' - a statement that reflected deep divisions which threaten to derail peace efforts.
Read the rest of the story HERE.

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