Ukraine Junta Again Evading The Implementation Put In Place By All Sides Of The Minsk Agreements

Ukraine reps in the Contact Group political subgroup appear poised to dodge the issue of the Steinmeier’s formula that is scheduled to be discussed at the next meeting in Minsk, LPR envoy said.

“The Contact Group set out to discuss the Steinmeier’s formula at the next meeting, but the Ukrainian side evades putting this question on the agenda, foisting amnesty issues and modalities of elections discussion although they have not defined their position,” Vladislav Deinego said.

German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s formula sets out the principles of implementation of the Ukrainian law “On local self-government order in certain areas of the Donetsk and Lugansk region”. According to his plan, the law should be enforced on the day of local elections on a temporary basis, and permanently upon the OSCE publishing its report on the elections outcome.

Deinego added  that today’s political subgroup meeting “was focused on defining agenda, but nothing was really decided”.

The subgroup’s coordinator Pierre Morel “had to admit there was no chance for efficient work”.

Earlier Deinego said that Kiev reps side stepped drawing up protocol to guide the work of the Contact Group and its working groups.

The Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements was adopted by the Contact Group on Ukraine on February 12, 2015 and supported by member states of the “Normandy Four” (Germany, Russia, Ukraine and France). The UN Security Council approved the document by its 2202 Resolution and called upon all the sides to ensure full implementation of the Package of Measures.

The document provides for comprehensive ceasefire, withdrawal of all heavy weapons from the contact line, starting a dialog on reconstruction of social and economic ties between the Kiev Junta and Donbass. It also envisages carrying out constitutional reform in Ukraine providing for decentralization and adopting permanent legislation on a special status of certain areas of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions.

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Ukraine has again disrupted the meeting of the Contact Group subgroup on economic issues meeting, that was scheduled for today in Minsk and attended by all the sides except for Kiev’s representatives.

“The meeting of the Contact Group subgroups on economic issues has been disrupted again. The representatives of four sides: OSCE, Russia, LPR and DPR were present, Ukrainian representative was missing,” LPR envoy to the talks Vladislav Deinego told Lugansk Media Centre.

“The coordinator Mr. Fisher opened the meeting and had to close it right after, as one of the sides was missing. Kiev’s representative was present in President Hotel (in Minsk), nevertheless he refused to enter the room and participate in the meeting.”

“Ukraine keeps blocking talks that are to settle social payments issue, revitalization of Donbass economy and infrastructure, restoration of bank system, etc,” he said.

“Deliberate obstruction of critical issues settlement has become Ukraine’s official modus operandi in Minsk. When they can not clog negotiations over some of the issues they just block meeting.”