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Italy’s PM calls to respect rights of ethnic minorities in Ukraine

Matteo Renzi has called to acknowledge Ukraine’s sovereign borders noting that "it is also necessary to respect the rights of ethnic minorities living on Ukraine’s territory"

Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi Mikhail Klimentyev/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS

Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi

© Mikhail Klimentyev/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS

ST.PETERSBURG, June 17. /TASS/. The rights of ethnic minorities in Ukraine need to be respected, Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said in an interview with TASS First Deputy Director General Mikhail Gusman on Friday.

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"In the Ukrainian situation, some steps forward were made in principle, as the Minsk accords are already a step forward," Renzi said.

The Italian prime minister has called to acknowledge Ukraine’s sovereign borders noting that "it is also necessary to respect the rights of ethnic minorities living on Ukraine’s territory."

"Everyone should show common sense and respect for the agreements," the prime minister said. "Italy worked in this direction, I’m thankful to President Putin and President Poroshenko who met in Milan in 2014," he said.

Renzi, who is taking part in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), also said that "the sanctions page will be turned" when the Minsk agreements are implemented.

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