Donetsk, Oct 31 - DAN. The statement by U.S. Department of State special representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker saying that the Donbass Republics representatives should not be involved in the discussion of the UN mission in the region contradicts the Minsk agreements, said Centre for Current Politics Director Alexey Chesnakov.
“The statement by the Donbass Republics representatives that it is impossible to ignore DPR and LPR authorities’ opinions regarding the UN forces mandate is fully in accordance with the spirit and letter of the Minsk agreements,” Russia’s TASS news agency quoted Chesnakov as saying. “Conversely, Mr Volker’s comments contradict these agreements.”
He reminded that the Republics’ representatives directly participated in the signing of the Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements in February 2015. “They also participate in Contact Group talks. Of course, successful completion of the conflict settlement is not possible without them. Any attempts to revise the roles of the Republics’ representatives or hints thereto can have far-reaching negative consequences,” the expert said.
Chesnakov also noted that “the deployment of the UN mission in any format is only possible after the disengagement of forces on the Contact Line and enforcement of the law on special status as coordinated with DPR and LPR, and in accordance with the Steinmeier formula confirmed by the “Normandy Four.”
On Monday, Volker alleged that the issues of UN mission deployment had been settled and that DPR and LPR’s opinion was irrelevant. Earlier today, DPR and LPR envoys to Minsk talks Denis Pushilin and Vladislav Deinego commented on the statements by the U.S. Department of State special representative.*jk