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Moscow names its representatives in Ukraine settlement subgroups

Officials of General Staff, Emergencies and Economic ministries will represent Russia
Ukraine's former president Leonid Kuchma, OSCE representative Heidi Tagliavini and Russia's representative Azamat Kulmukhametov (right) Viktor Drachev/TASS
Ukraine's former president Leonid Kuchma, OSCE representative Heidi Tagliavini and Russia's representative Azamat Kulmukhametov (right)
© Viktor Drachev/TASS

MINSK, May 6. /TASS/. Members of the Russian Armed Forces’ General Staff, the Emergencies Ministry and the Ministry of Economic Development will represent Russia in the working subgroups of the Contact Group on Ukraine, Russia’s representative in the Group Azamat Kulmukhametov said on Wednesday.

"Representative of the Russian General Staff Yaroslav Moskalev will be a delegate from the country in the working subgroup for security, while Deputy Emergencies Minister Vladimir Stepanov will represent Russia in the subgroup for humanitarian issues," Kulmukhametov said.

"Maksim Polyakov will become a member of the working subgroup for political issues, while Deputy Economic Development Minister Sergey Nazarov - of the working subgroup for economic affairs," he said.

Minsk meeting to help continue Donbas peace settlement

After Wednesday's talks, Kulmukhametov  said the results of the meeting give grounds to continue peace settlement of the situation in Donbas.

"It’s an important event, and the main thing is that it occurred on the basis of direct dialogue. What was said today gives all grounds to continue peace settlement," Kulmukhametov said.

"A serious step has been made in the cause of political settlement of the crisis. After a number of difficulties, it became possible to organize a meeting of working groups and choose specific data and issues," he said.

"It’s a very important event and it happened on the basis of dialogue. There are serious grounds for further movement along the way of conflict settlement," Kulmukhametov said.

Now, he said, "it is necessary to discuss issues related to modality and terms of elections to local self-government bodies, it is necessary to discuss issues connected with restoration of the banking system’s operation."

On February 12, participants of the Contact Group on settlement of the situation in Donbas signed in Belarusian capital Minsk a document earlier agreed with leaders of the Normandy Four (Russia, Germany, France and Ukraine), which envisioned cessation of fire, withdrawal of heavy armaments from the contact line as well as political settlement measures, including establishment of working subgroups as priority tasks.

The subgroups will focus on four areas: economic issues and restoration of facilities; refugees, internally displaced persons and humanitarian assistance; political issues; security issues.