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CRI听力:Ukraine Grants Autonomy to Rebel-held Regions

2014-09-17来源:CRI

Ukraine's parliament has granted autonomy to two eastern regions as part of a peace deal.

The bill provides self-rule to rebel-held Donetsk and Luhansk for a three-year period.

It also offers an amnesty to rebel fighters.

The development comes as sporadic clashes continue in eastern regions amid a ceasefire deal signed earlier this month.

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko says the bill is about building peace.

"I am convinced that today we have achieved a goal and the peace process has not been derailed. Today I have no doubt that we have come closer to a situation where people in the east of Ukraine will stop dying and that finally people living in Donetsk and Luhansk should have an opportunity to elect new authorities. And with those authorities we should find understanding and bring peace, calm and well-being."

The rebels will now be allowed to set up their own police forces and hold local elections in December.

The offering comes on the same day as the Ukraine parliament ratified an agreement to deepen economic and political ties with the European Union.

The agreement will make Ukraine compliant with EU standards in areas including security and arms control while removing some trade barriers.

But the free-trade part of the deal has been postponed until 2016.

Russia has said it will block Ukrainian goods to Russia if Kiev lowers trade barriers with Europe.

The rejection of the same EU deal by Ukraine's former President Viktor Yanukovych triggered mass protests, leading to his overthrow in February.