Zadar (HR), 20 February 2014

The Bureau members of the Assembly of European Regions, meeting today in Zadar, Croatia, made a unanimous statement about the situation in Ukraine:

AER Bureau members firmly express their concern about the violent events taking place in Kiev.

One of the strengths of a democracy is the right for the citizens to raise their voices in order to tell authorities what they want for their future. The use of force is in no way the answer to demonstrations; only dialogue can lead to solutions!

We therefore call on all parties to immediately put an end to the dramatic situation in the country. We call upon the President, his government as well as regional and local authorities to carefully investigate incidents of violence and to ensure the full implementation of democratic rights and civil liberties.