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Germany urges efforts in Normandy format to implement Minsk deal

A German diplomat says talks on implementing Minsk are held at the level of experts on a regular basis, the Normandy format needed to fulfill the deal

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BERLIN, August 19. /TASS/. Germany’s government considers it necessary to go ahead with the efforts as part of the Normandy format (Russia, Ukraine, Germany, France) to implement the Minsk peace deal on Ukraine despite all challenges, German Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Sawsan Chebli told reporters on Friday.

"The talks on implementing Minsk are held at the level of experts on a regular basis. We hold by our opinion: despite the current difficult situation and all failures there is the need to make efforts and stay in the Normandy format to fulfill Minsk," Chebli said.

The diplomat reminded that German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier had earlier said he was not satisfied by how the deal signed in February 2015 was implemented, namely in the security area in Donbass and preparations for the local elections.

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