France welcomes Ukrainian abolition of repressive laws

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius on Tuesday welcomed a decision by the Ukrainian parliament to abolish a series of repressive laws that have been used to try to prevent and ban public protests in that country. Dozens have been killed and a number of people are reported missing after days of clashes between demonstrators and police, mainly in the capital, Kiev. The protesters are furious that the Ukrainian authorities are refusing to pursue closer ties with the European Union and are, instead, seeking rapprochement with Russia. Fabius said in his statement here that the now-abolished Ukrainian laws were used "in an unacceptable way to restrict public freedoms." The Chief French Diplomat said the abolition decision was "positive" as was the decision by the Prime Minister to resign. Dialogue must now be reopened between the opposing parties, Fabius urged, adding that "everything must be done to move towards a political and peaceful settlement of the crisis which is rocking the country."