NATO Secretary General appeals to Ukraine to refrain from violence at all cost – statement

23:18, 01.12.2013 1 min read

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen appeals to all parties involved in current events in Ukraine to refrain from violence and the use of force at all cost, he said in an official statement on December 1.

"I appeal to all parties to refrain from violence and the use of force at all cost. Violence and force are not the way to resolve political differences in a democratic society. I urge everyone to proceed in accordance with constitutional and democratic norms," the statement reads.

NATO fully respects all Ukrainians and the democratic ideals of the Ukrainian nation.

"I call on Ukraine, as the holder of the Chairmanship in Office of the OSCE, to fully abide by its international commitments to respect the freedom of expression and assembly," the statement says.

As "many Ukrainians continue to show their strong support for their country's closer relations with the European Union, it is the right of people everywhere to express their views in a democratic way," Rasmussen says.