KYIV. April 16 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian authorities continue a nationwide dialogue, however those, who have weapons in their hands, do not want unity in the country, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said.
"We continue the nationwide dialogue. However, those, who are holding weapons, do not want the unity in the country. Furthermore they are not talking about how to grant additional powers to these or those regions or how to defend the rights of ethnic minorities. Their task is to destroy Ukraine's independence," Yatsenyuk said at a government meeting on Wednesday.
The stance of the Ukrainian government - to decentralize the authorities, submit changes to the constitution, and protect ethnic minorities and the Russian-speaking population - is unchangeable, the prime minister said. "It is for the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the Ukrainian state," he said.
A special temporary committee including representatives of all political forces - Ukraine's east and west - has been established in the parliament for this purpose, Yatsenyuk said. "Elected mayors of cities, including of eastern Ukraine, and representatives of the deputy corps participated in the [committee's] work. They currently represent our political opponents but they represent people living in Donetsk or Luhansk and they have received the mandate of these people. Namely they have the legitimate right to express the will and interests of eastern Ukraine," Yatsenyuk said.