Leader’s Top Aide: Ukraine Facing Danger of Separation

(FNA)- A senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader warned that the recent developments in Ukraine may lead to the country’s disintegration.

“There is a danger of separation in Ukraine and also the security of the Caucasus region and its borders is highly important,” Supreme Leader's top advisor for international affairs Ali Akbar Velayati, who served as the country's foreign minister in four administration, said in Tehran on Monday.

In relevant remarks today, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces General Hassan Firouzabadi voiced regret over the recent developments in Ukraine, and described the events in the East European nation as an unfortunate move from independence to foreign dependence.

“What happened in Ukraine and Kiev was a revolution to escape from independence to dependence,” Firouzabadi said.

“Changing the name of Independence Square to Euro Square in Kiev is the symbol of a story created by the US and Europe’s support for the country’s escape from independence to dependence,” he added.

Firouzabadi said that the events in Ukraine are a historical lesson for all independent nations to be careful about the capitalists and arrogant powers’ evil ideas and deception.

On Sunday, Ukraine's newly-elected parliamentary speaker Oleksandr Turchynov announced that lawmakers must form a national unity government by Tuesday following a vote to oust President Viktor Yanukovych.

The latest wave of clashes between police and anti-government demonstrators erupted on February 18, after the deadline set by security authorities to end the protests expired.

According to a recent statement released by the Ukrainian Health Ministry, at least 88 people, mostly protesters, are now known to have been killed in the latest round of violence in the former Soviet Republic.