Discussion of Donbas elections possible if Russia gets constructive on security, OSCE standards - Ukrainian Foreign Ministry
KYIV. Jan 26 (Interfax) - Discussion of the possibility of conducting elections in Donbas is not possible without a constructive Russian position on key issues: the provision of security and compliance with Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) standards, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said.
"We must move forward towards free and honest elections. Today Russia is not recognizing the basic OSCE standards by engaging in machinations, saying that the model does not suit them, Ukrainian media may not be there, Ukrainian political parties may not be there. Then this definitely won't be an election but a farce. We say that we need the OSCE standards," Klimkin told journalists in Kyiv on Thursday.
Complying with the basic security conditions and OSCE standards is the key issue on the agenda, he said. "So far Russia has been consistently blocking it [...] Once we see that Russia is ready for any constructive dialogue, we will meet at the political level," Klimkin said.