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UN Security Council meets to discuss resolution on Ukraine

UNITED NATIONS, March 15, 19:16 /ITAR-TASS/. The U.N. Security Council has begun a meeting where its members are to vote on a resolution that proclaims the referendum on the status of Crimea (autonomy within Ukraine) slated for March 16 unlawful.

Permanent representatives of 15 Security Council member states and Ukraine are attending the meeting.

Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin told the journalists that one should not expect any surprises from the meeting. “There will be no surprises. We know how all this will end,” he said.

Chinese Ambassador Liu Jieyi did not disclose any details ahead of the vote.

The latest version of the resolution proposed by the United States says that Ukraine has not authorised a referendum on the status of Crimea and therefore it cannot be considered lawful or serve as the basis for any change in the status of the peninsula. The document also urges all countries, international organisations and specialised agencies not to recognise the results of the plebiscite in Crimea.

The referendum will be held on March 16. The decision was adopted by 49 of 50 MPs present at an urgent session of the Crimean parliament on February 27.

Two questions will be asked during the referendum:

1. Do you support Crimea’s reunification with Russia as its constituent member?

2. Do you support the restoration of the Constitution of the Republic of Crimea of 1992 and the status of Crimea as a part of Ukraine?

The ballots in Sevastopol will also include a question on its accession to Crimea as a city with a special status, he added.

Sevastopol’s City Council ruled on March 6, to hold a referendum on the city’s accession to Russia.

Tags

Ukraine crisis Referendum in Crimea

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