Hague: Ukraine needs urgent constitutional reforms

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said Monday Ukraine is in need of urgent constitutional reforms and free elections in order to be better able to end the rampant corruption. Updating the Parliament on the situation in Ukraine, Hague said: "Last week more than 80 people were killed and 600 injured during the worst bloodshed in Ukraine since the fall of communism. "It was the culmination of unrest that began in November when President Yanukovych announced that the Government would not sign an EU Association Agreement. The House I know will join me in sending condolences to the families of those who died or were injured," the foreign secretary said. "On Thursday I attended the Emergency Meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, which agreed sanctions on those responsible for the violence, as well as assistance to promote political dialogue and help for the injured. "On Friday President Yanukovych and the opposition signed an agreement, also supported by the whole European Union, and I pay tribute to my French, Polish and German colleagues for their efforts to bring this about. "But events moved rapidly after that, including the departure of President Yanukovych from Kyiv, and the removal of guards from government buildings. "On Saturday the Ukrainian Parliament, the Rada, voted to restore the 2004 constitution, to release Yulia Tymoshenko, and to impeach the President. He has said he will not step down, but it is clear that his authority is no longer widely accepted in Ukraine as a legitimate President. "A number of members of the previous government have been dismissed, and appointments made in a new unity Government. Rada (Ukrainian parliament) Speaker Turchynov has been appointed acting President until early elections on 25th May. "Ukraine now has a pressing need for constitutional reform, improvements to its political culture, free elections, an end to pervasive corruption and the building of a stable political structure," Hague affirmed. "We look to the new government to create the conditions for such change, in a spirit of reconciliation, and to ensure accountability for human rights violations. "For our part, the international community must work with the new government to discourage further violence and agree international financial support. Ukraine's financial situation is very serious and, without outside assistance, may not be sustainable. "An economic crisis in Ukraine would be a grave threat to the country's stability and have damaging wider consequences. "I discussed this work with the German and Polish Foreign Ministers over the weekend, and I spoke to Foreign Minister Lavrov of Russia earlier this afternoon," he went on. "The Prime Minister (David Cameron) has spoken to (Russian) President Putin, (German) Chancellor Merkel and (Polish) Prime Minister Tusk, and the Chancellor discussed Ukraine with G20 Finance Ministers in Australia. "After this Statement I will leave for talks on this and other issues in Washington with Secretary Kerry," Hague pointed out. "While in Washington I will hold talks with the International Monetary Fund, which is best placed to provide the financial support and technical advice to Ukraine. Such support can be provided quickly once requested by the new government. "It requires a stable and legitimate government to be in place and a commitment to the reforms necessary to produce economic stability. International financial support cannot be provided without conditions and clarity that it will be put to proper use," he added.