Ukrainians should settle domestic affairs themselves - Chinese diplomat

BEIJING, May 13 (Itar-Tass) - China's Vice Foreign Minister Cheng Guoping said "domestic affairs in Ukraine should be settled by the Ukrainian people," as he responded to Itar-Tass request to comment on the results of the referenda in Ukraine's Donetsk and Lugansk regions. "I believe that the referenda in Ukraine are the internal affair of that country. China's foreign policy course implies non-interference in the domestic policy of foreign states," Cheng Guoping said. "The legitimate interests of all peoples in Ukraine should be respected." On Monday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said the settlement of the Ukrainian issue should "meet the just, legitimate and reasonable demands of the parties comprehensively, in a balanced way and in full measure." The Ukrainian crisis must be settled "on the basis of law and order", and the parties need "to settle their disagreements properly," Chinese diplomats said. On May 11, Ukraine's Donetsk and Lugansk regions held referenda on the status of these regions amid the ongoing punitive operation launched by the Kiev authorities. According to the Central Election Commission, some 80 percent of the electorate took part in the voting in the Donetsk region and approximately as many in the Lugasnk region. The referenda were held in connection with the declaration of Donetsk People's Republic and Lugansk People's Republic in April. Independence of the provinces was supported, respectively, by 89.7 percent and 96.2 percent of voters. Learn more on itar-tass.com