Kyiv silent on its participation in CIS foreign ministers' meeting - Karasin
MOSCOW. March 31 (Interfax) - Russia has not been notified by the Ukrainian authorities yet as to who will represent Ukraine at the next meeting of CIS foreign ministers, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said.
"We have not received any official statements so far regarding who will represent Ukraine at the planned CIS foreign ministers' council, which is to be held in Moscow on Friday, April 4," Karasin told reporters.
The information that Ukraine would not attend the coming meeting does not exist so far, Karasin said. "We are not aware of this. The CIS executive committee deals with it. As far as we know, the invitation has been sent," Karasin told Interfax when asked whether Ukraine would attend the meeting.
"We have all cooperation and communication channels open and we are ready to discuss all issues with no exceptions," he said.
"But the main focus of political discussions in our country and abroad is the political crisis in Ukraine, which is continuing. The elections announced for May 25 are an important factor, but still we think that constitutional reform, which will take into account the interests of all the Ukrainian regions will help to create a well-balanced architecture of Ukrainian statehood, is more important," Karasin said.
Russia as well as the international community will continue to discuss reform but Ukrainians are the ones who will decide, Karasin said. "We will hope that the agreements reached on February 21 will be implemented and that illegal formations, especially ultra-right radical nationalist groups, will be dissolved and disarmed," the deputy foreign minister said.
