At the same time, Alexander Zakharchenko considers the
work of the Contact Group and its subgroups "important and useful".
MOSCOW, April 8. /TASS/. The peaceful settlement process in Ukraine’s Donbass region organized within the framework of the Minsk accords was frozen even before it began in full measure, head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) Alexander Zakharchenko has told Donetsk News Agency.
"The peaceful settlement process was actually
frozen before it began," he said. "Even the first clause of the Minsk
agreements concerning the truce is not complied with. The Ukrainian military is
constantly and increasingly shelling our territory making provocations on a
regular basis. As for other provisions of the Package of Measures, they are
either not observed by Kiev or are simulated. The reason is simple enough -
Kiev hopes to resolve the conflict by force sooner or later."
At the same time, he considers the work of the Contact
Group and its subgroups "important and useful." "Firstly, they
guarantee if not a dialogue with Ukraine then at least direct contacts. This is
important, particularly amid the persisting military confrontation. Secondly,
the work at the Contact Group and its subgroups itself can exert influence on
Kiev and prompt it to launch the full-fledged dialogue to achieve a
settlement," Zakharchenko said.
He added that the DPR proceeds from the need to fully
implement small projects in the context of the work of the thematic subgroups.
"If their number grows, this could lead to a change in the quality of the
talks," he said, adding that at the moment he does not expect any tangible
progress at the negotiations.
A meeting of the Contact Group and its subgroups ended
in Minsk on April 6. The parties failed to achieve breakthrough results.
Representatives of the self-proclaimed republics of the Donbass region
supported by Russia insisted on introducing tough regulations in the work of
the Contact Group. The issues of demining activities, end of fire attacks,
organization of elections and normalization of the humanitarian situation were
also on the agenda.
Source: ITAR-TASS 08-04-2016
