(18 Apr 2014) FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus009047
VOICE-OVER SCRIPT:
THE CHIEF RABBI IN DONETSK, UKRAINE SAYS HE IS STUNNED THAT ANTI-SEMITIC LEAFLETS CALLING FOR THE REGISTRATION OF JEWS WITH AUTHORITIES WERE POSTED IN THE CITY.
SOUNDBITE (Russian) Pinkhas Vyshedsky, Donetsk Rabbi:
"I can say that we are very shocked, shocked by the fact that someone allowed themselves to print and distribute such leaflets."
HE DISMISSED CLAIMS THAT THE JEWISH COMMUNITY WAS BEING TARGETED AS PART OF ANY ANTI-GOVERNMENT UNREST IN THE COUNTRY. THE LEAFLETS RAISE THE SPECTRE OF NAZI-ERA PERSECUTION. BUT A SELF-APPOINTED OFFICIAL OF THE ORGANIZATION NAMED ON THE LEAFLETS SAID THEY WERE FAKE.
MEANWHILE, PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN EASTERN UKRAINE ARE HOPEFUL THAT THIS WEEK'S AGREEMENT IN GENEVA BETWEEN UKRAINE AND RUSSIA WILL HELP BRING ABOUT A PEACEFUL COMPROMISE.
SOUNDBITE (Russian) Valeri Siforov, Donetsk resident:
"We really hope that such meetings will help prevent bloodshed here because we don't want blood. We want this issue to be resolved peacefully and for us to be given an opportunity to decide on our future."
IN AN EFFORT TO DE-ESCALATE TENSIONS, UKRAINE' S PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS DRAFTING A LAW THAT WOULD OFFER AMNESTY TO PRO-RUSSIA MILITIA MEMBERS IF THEY LAY DOWN THEIR ARMS AND LEAVE OCCUPIED GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.
HOWEVER, UKRAINE'S FOREIGN MINISTER WARNED PROTESTERS THAT WILL NOT COMPLY.
SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Andriy Deshchytsia, Ukrainian Foreign Minister:
""If those people are ready to leave the buildings to surrender weapons, today, tomorrow, so we can encourage the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe) mission to negotiate, to mediate and we can implement it, but if this will not start in a few days I think that after Easter there will be more concrete actions."
PRO-RUSSIAN OCCUPIERS SHOWED NO SIGN OF RELENTING, SAYING THEY WILL ONLY LEAVE WITH THE INTERIM GOVERNMENT IN KIEV RESIGNS.
MATTHEW BURGOYNE, ASSOCIATED PRESS
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