Ashton calls for full compliance with Ukraine agreement

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton called on the Ukrainian government and opposition to fully abide by an agreement they signed on Friday, saying it was necessary to support the Ukrainian people to benefit from this accord. Speaking to reporters in London, Ashton underlined the European Union's support of the agreement, which was approved by the three opposition parties in Ukraine, to end the bloody conflict in the country, which killed scores of people and injured hundreds others, thus paving the way for early elections before the end of this year. Ashton said it was important for the violence to immediately stop in Ukraine in order for life to return to pre-protest time. She also condemned all sorts of violence and called for punishing those behind them regardless of their affiliations. She praised the role of the Foreign Ministers of Germany, France and Poland for brokering the deal following "tough negotiations" with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. Ashton said the EU-Ukrainian partnership agreement, which Yanukovych refused to sign late last year thus triggering protests, was still on and could be signed in future. She said Yanukovych was ready to sign the agreement last November but changed his mind in the last minute, and turned to the Russians. Yanukovych and opposition leaders signed the agreement earlier today. The agreement calls for holding early presidential elections and forming a government consisting of opposition members. The parliament, immediately after signing the deal, voted to reintroduce the 2004 constitution which limits the powers of head of the state and allows the parliament the right to appoint ministers.