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Gryzlov: Donbass representatives set for constructive work on local elections

"Representatives of the southeastern regions are set for a constructive work," Russia’s chief negotiator said when asked about the prospects for local elections in Donbass

MOSCOW, January 18. /TASS/. Representatives of the self-proclaimed republics in Donbass are set for a constructive work on issues of local elections at the talks in Minsk, Russia’s representative in the Contact Group and permanent member of the Russian Security Council Boris Gryzlov said in an interview with the Kommersant daily published on its website on Sunday.

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First meeting of Contact Group in 2016 to take place in Minsk

"The Contact Group will never stop its efforts on this matter. Representatives of the southeastern regions are set for a constructive work," he said when asked about the prospects for local elections in Donbass.

The Contact Group, in his words, should be "a platform for bringing all the positions to a common denominator, international requirements and, in the long run, to strict observance of the letter and spirit of the Minsk agreements."

He reminded that in line with the Minsk accords Kiev had put its signature under "amendments to the Ukrainian constitution related to decentralization and the law on elections are to be agreed with Donbass."

A constitutional reform is an important part of the February 12 comprehensive action plan to fulfil the Minsk accords worked out by the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France in the search for peace in the embattled eastern Donbass region.

A key element of reform is decentralization of government with respect to the peculiarities of certain parts of Donetsk and Lugansk regions agreed with their representatives, as well as adopting permanent legislation on the special status of certain Donbass areas.

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