Ban Ki-moon calls for inclusive political process in Ukraine

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday called for an inclusive political process that reflects the aspirations of all Ukrainians and preserves Ukraine's unity and territorial integrity, his press office said in a statement.It said Ban continues to closely follow the "rapidly unfolding" events in Ukraine, and has remained in continual contact with key actors on how to support a peaceful way forward for the country at this "time of transformation." Ukraine's Acting Interior Minister Arsen Avakov reportedly said that Ukraine's former President Viktor Yanukovych has been put on the wanted persons list, and a criminal case has been opened based on the killing of many civilians during the recent protests.Yanukovych reportedly fled the capital Kiev two days ago and has been prevented from leaving the country.In his statement, Ban reiterated his call for non-violence and urged all Ukrainians to "express their differences peacefully and through dialogue, and to seek a durable solution through compromise." "In order to bring about a stable and prosperous future for Ukraine, the Secretary-General calls for a firm commitment by all concerned to uphold the key principles of democracy and human rights and thereby create a conducive environment for free and fair elections," the statement urged.In a show of UN support, Ban dispatched his senior advisor Robert Serry to Ukraine, and expects all key international actors to work collaboratively to help Ukrainians at this challenging time in their country's history.Serry met in Kiev with the new Speaker of the Parliament, Oleksander Turchinov, to convey Ban's solidarity with all Ukrainians and commitment to assist a Ukrainian-led inclusive governance process.