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Yatsenyuk promises decentralization, extra guarantees of use of Russian language

This is not the first such promise coming from the Kiev authorities

KIEV, May 04 /ITAR-TASS/. Ukraine’s parliament-appointed Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, who arrived in the Black Sea port city of Odessa on Sunday over tragic developments in that city on May 2, has promised decentralizations and “additional guarantees” to regions concerning the use of the Russian language.

Addressing representatives from public organizations, Yatsenyuk promised to “follow the path of decentralization of power” through making relevant amendments to the Ukrainian constitution. Touching the subject of the status of the Russian language, he said that constitutional amendments may give “additional guarantees concerning the use of the Russian language and other languages of national minorities provided corresponding council pass such decisions.”

“We should not only maintain a dialogue within the framework of the constitutional reform, we must complete this dialogue by signing a draft constitution with participation pf all political forces,” he said.

Notable, this is not the first such promise coming from the Kiev authorities. In late April, the Ukrainian cabinet of ministers came out with a statement where it promised to “hear all legal political demands of Ukrainians both in the east and the west of the country.

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Ukraine crisis Ukraine Eastern Ukraine

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