'Normandy Four' thinks there should be no alternative to Minsk agreements for Ukraine - Lavrov
PARIS. June 24 (Interfax) - 'Normandy Four' foreign ministers have underlined the absence of alternative to the agreements for Ukraine reached in Minsk on February 12, 2015, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.
"Today, and I emphasize this with full responsibility, all the four ministers firmly opposed such attempts [to resolve the Ukraine crisis by force]. My colleagues from France and Germany, in particular, stressed the absence of alternative to Minsk II," he said after negotiations held in Paris in the 'Normandy format'.
In the words of the Russian minister, "There is an impression there are forces wishing to undermine this process."
"I'd not give the address, but such forces exist. Many, for various reasons, prefer a military scenario, the use of force, and many want the situation to escalate rather than calm down," Lavrov underscored.
In the words of the minister, the Minsk agreements should be fulfilled "primarily in the field of ceasefire" and in matters "concerning the package nature of the Minsk agreement."
"Without making progress along the path of political reforms, it will hardly be possible to create an atmosphere necessary for the complete and good-faith fulfillment of the Minsk agreements," Lavrov said.