MOSCOW, August 3. /TASS/. Donetsk will raise an issue of returning children held by Kiev to the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) at the meeting of the Contact Group’s sub-group on humanitarian matters that will take place in Minsk later today, DPR head’s advisor on children’s rights Yana Chepikova told Donetsk News Agency on Monday.
"At the session of the humanitarian sub-group, we will definitely raise the issue of returning children to their families on the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic," Chepikova said adding that DPR is first of all concerned about children who need medical assistance.
Chepikova earlier said that Kiev holds 85 orphans, while the total number of DPR children held in Ukraine stands at around 400.
Contact Group on Ukrainian settlement’s sub-groups will hold meetings today in Minsk in the afternoon, Belarusian foreign ministry told Donetsk News Agency earlier. "Sub-groups will meet after 12pm. More detailed information will be announced a little later," the foreign ministry’s press service said.
After meetings of four sub-groups — on security, political, economy and humanitarian components of the Minsk accords, the Contact Group will hold talks. On agenda are issues of Shirokino demilitarization, finalizing the agreement on withdrawing weaponry of less than 100mm caliber, discussing political part of the roadmap of peace process and humanitarian and economic issues.