DPR, LPR representatives must demonstrate political will - minister
KYIV. Sept 2 (Interfax) - The Trilateral Contact Group is ready to continue work and is expecting representatives from the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) to show political will, said Ukraine's Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin.
"I spoke to the participants in these consultations, both from the Ukrainian side, and from the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe). They are set to continue them and ready to work in earnest. The question now is that representatives from the so-called LPR and DPR are also ready to work in earnest, and this requires the relevant political will," Klimkin told reporters on Tuesday, commenting on the results of the talks held by the Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk on September 1.
The minister praised the very fact of these consultations held in Minsk, as it had been difficult to organize this round of talks because of the DPR's and LPR's reluctance to take part in them, he said
"Yesterday's discussion focused on a number of issues relating to the need to release hostages and to address issues relating to ceasefire preconditions," said the Ukrainian foreign minister.
It was reported that on September 1 Minsk hosted consultations of the Trilateral Contact Group over the Ukrainian crisis.
DPR deputy Prime Minister Andriy Purgin said after the meeting that the Group is planning to continue consultations in Minsk on September 5.
"We have exchanged documentation and will study it. Consultations might continue on September 5," Purgin told reporters.
"There will be an active discussion, Ukraine has big proposals, we will study and discuss them," the DPR representative said. The parties have "taken a time out," he said.
Representatives from both sides must understand which of the proposals "can be discussed and which are unacceptable," he said.
