Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird says Canada supports the recent developments in Ukraine that saw the country鈥檚 parliament call for the removal of President Victor Yanukovych, as well as for early elections, but said its travel ban on senior Ukrainian government officials will remain in place.
"Developments today in Ukraine are an important step away from the violence which has taken place under the Yanukovych regime,鈥� Baird saidSaturday night.
Protest leaders and the beleaguered president agreed Friday to form a new government and hold an early election. Parliament also slashed Yanukovych鈥檚 powers and voted to free his rival, former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, from prison.
With Yanukovych's supporters quitting his party one after another throughout the day, legislators also approved an amnesty for protesters involved in violence.
Then on Saturday, parliament called for Yanukovych's removal and for elections to take place on May 25.
鈥淲e wholeheartedly support the agreement to cease violence, institute constitutional change, provide full amnesty for protesters, and move towards a coalition government and early elections," Baird said. "In addition, we also support the release of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.鈥�
But Baird added that Canada鈥檚 travel ban on top Ukrainian government officials would remain intact.
鈥淭ogether with our allies, we will continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure that actions match their words,鈥� he said. 鈥淐anadian measures will remain in place until we are certain that the Yanukovych regime is listening to the call of their people, and fully following the path to democracy that it has committed to.鈥�
Yanukovych has decamped to eastern Ukraine and has vowed he would remain in power. He says he regards the parliament as now illegitimate and he won't respect its decisions.
With files from the Associated Press
