Ukraine admits progress in Geneva talks

Ukraine`s acting Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsya Friday acknowledged the progress achieved in Geneva during the four-party talks over Ukraine crisis, but said some differences still remained.

Kiev: Ukraine`s acting Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsya Friday acknowledged the progress achieved in Geneva during the four-party talks over Ukraine crisis, but said some differences still remained.

"Russia agreed to facilitate de-escalation of the situation in the eastern regions," Xinhua quoted Deshchytsya as telling media. 

Top diplomats from Ukraine, Russia, the US and the European Union reached a deal Thursday to defuse the ongoing crisis in eastern Ukraine and resolve dispute between Kiev and Moscow on the issue.

Deshchytsya said the sides have reached a compromise on some crucial issues, including implementation of far-reaching constitutional reform in Ukraine and amnesty to pro-Russian protesters.

There were, however, some stumbling blocks during the negotiations, Deshchytsya said, pointing out the divergence between Moscow and Kiev over Ukraine`s political and military status.

The two post-Soviet neighbours also have different positions on Crimea`s integration into Russia and on Moscow`s involvement in unrest in eastern Ukraine, he added.

The unrest in Ukraine`s Russian-speaking east occurred after Russia annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea March 18 following a referendum.

A new wave of violence erupted in the country`s east over the weekend, as pro-Moscow activists seized several administrative buildings in nearly 10 eastern cities. The sought a referendum on autonomy and closer ties with Russia. 

Two UN employees abducted in Karachi

Islamabad, April 19 (IANS) Unidentified gunmen kidnapped two local employees of the UN in Pakistan`s port city of Karachi late Friday, police said.

The gunmen abducted the employees from their car, reported Xinhua citing Geo News. The local employees were identified as Sami Nawaz and Farukh Salim.

No contact with the two employees could be established, as their cell phones were switched off, police sources said, adding the security forces have also started a search operation in an area after they received signal of their mobile phones.

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