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Ukraine opposition made public its conditions for the start of talks with the authorities

For talks to be started, it is essential to release the detained protesters, dismiss Interior Minister Vitaly Zakharchenko, and bring Interior-Ministry soldiers back to the barr

© EPA/ZURAB KURTSIKIDZE

KIEV, December 11, 4:50 /ITAR-TASS/. Ukraine's opposition in the Independence Square here on Tuesday made public its conditions for the start of talks with the authorities. "For talks to be started, it is essential (for the authorities) to release the detained protesters, dismiss Interior Minister Vitaly Zakharchenko, and bring Interior-Ministry soldiers back to the barracks," stated Yuri Lutsenko, Ukrainian ex-Minister of the Interior.

"After all these demands are met, the protesters may authorize the leaders (of the opposition) to hold talks with the authorities," Lutsenko said. According to him, the talks must deal with the formation of an interim government and preparation of parliamentary and presidential elections.

A roundtable meeting between representatives of the opposition and the authorities is to be held in Kiev's Ukraine Palace on Wednesday. Such a roundtable was suggested by Leonid Kravchuk, the country's first president.

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