Ukrainian government calls on opposition to share responsibility

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara said on Saturday that Ukrainian government had met all the requirements of the opposition and the latter should do their part to end the crisis in the East European country. Kozhara said at the Munich Security Conference that the requirements set by the opposition include repealing a controversial legislation issued on Jan. 16, providing amnesty to detained persons under the condition that the opposition retreat from occupied government buildings, being ready to talk about constitutional reform as well as election and composition of electorate commission. "Today we have actually fulfilled the requirements of the opposition," said Kozhara, "We did everything." "I again call the opposition today to share the responsibility... We all should share responsibility and to implement all arrangements we have chosen before," Kozhara said. At least four people were reportedly killed and hundreds of others, including police officers, injured during clashes between protesters and the government forces in Ukraine in the past two weeks. Kozhara accused that some of the so-called peaceful protesters were "extremists" and "militants" who attacked police with petrol bombs. Rallies started in streets of Kiev last November when Ukrainian government decided to put on hold an association agreement with the European Union and opt for closer relations with Russia. Demonstrations turned violent on Jan. 19, when radical activists attacked riot police with fireworks and petrol bombs. Sitting next to Kozhara in the conference on Saturday, opposition leader Vitali Klychko said that Ukrainian government had chosen a path that was unacceptable and protesters had shown their will to implement a political change in the country by staying outside in cold temperatures in rain and snow.