TEXT of the decision:

Situation in Ukraine

CM/Del/Dec(2014)1192/1.3, CM/Del/Dec(2014)1192bis/1.2, CM/Del/Dec(2014)1194/1.7, CM/Del/Dec(2014)1195/1.7,DD(2014)218, DD(2014)221, DD(2014)268 and DD(2014)281)

Decisions
The Deputies,

Recalling their previous decisions, and in particular those adopted at their 1192bis (26 February 2014), 1194th (12-14 March 2014) and 1195th (19-20 March 2014) meetings,

1. stressed that the illegal referendum held in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol on 16 March 2014 and the subsequent illegal annexation by the Russian Federation cannot form the basis for any alteration of the status of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol;

2. welcomed the participation of the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Mr Andrii Deshchytsia, in their meeting and the commitment of the Ukrainian authorities, which he reiterated on this occasion, to effectively implement reforms aimed at strengthening human rights protection, the functioning of democratic institutions and the rule of law in line with the Council of Europe values;

3. welcomed also the immediate assistance measures for Ukraine presented by the Secretary General at the meeting, including the important tasks assigned to the Venice Commission in assisting Ukraine in various areas of reform, encouraged their rapid implementation and invited member States to urgently consider granting voluntary contributions for their financing;

4. welcomed the appointment of the third member of the International Advisory Panel and looked forward to the Panel starting its work rapidly;

5. recalled the obligation for all States Parties to the European Convention on Human Rights to abide by this instrument and reiterated their call to the two Parties concerned to comply without delay with the interim measure granted by the European Court of Human Rights following the Inter-State application lodged by Ukraine;

6. expressed their appreciation to the Advisory Committee of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, composed of independent experts, for the ad hoc report promptly prepared on the situation of national minorities in Ukraine;

7. noted the concerns raised in this report (CM(2014)46), including those regarding the safety of persons belonging to national minorities; and called on the parties concerned to effectively follow-up all its conclusions;

8. invited the Advisory Committee to continue to monitor the situation of national minorities throughout Ukraine, including in Crimea, using all available means; welcomed in this context the launching of the third monitoring cycle regarding the implementation by Ukraine of the provisions of the European Charter for Regional and Minority languages and the fourth monitoring cycle regarding the implementation by Ukraine of the provisions of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, under which an assessment regarding the protection of the rights of persons belonging to national minorities, including regional minority languages, will be provided throughout Ukraine, including in Crimea;

9. decided to continue to follow closely the situation in Ukraine.