DONETSK. June 21 (Interfax) - Denying a special status to Donbas and Kyiv's projects inconsistent with the Minsk agreements are demonstrating a dangerous trend, according to Natalya NIkonorova, acting foreign minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk people's republic (DPR).
"The latest meeting of the political group in Minsk [on Wednesday] was held in the spirit of the now traditional attempts by Ukrainian representatives to avoid, in every possible way, a discussion of not only their immediate responsibilities under the Minsk agreements, but also compromise-based mechanisms proposed by the guarantor states," Nikonorova told journalists.
Introducing the law on a special status for Donbas, which under Clause 11 of the Set of Measures, should be permanent, remains the main issue, Nikonorova said. However, the Ukrainian representatives, using various pretexts, are still avoiding a discussion and negotiation of these proceedings at a group meeting, the acting foreign ministers aid.
"The refusal to take necessary measures to introduce the legislation on a special status or any imitation on Kyiv's part, in the form of new projects inconsistent with the requirements of the Minsk agreements, is a dangerous trend," Nikonorova said.
It is the decentralization measures and giving broad powers to the regions that form basis for preventing and resolving any conflict, she said.
"Thus, contrary actions can only attest to a continued policy of increasingly splitting the society," Nikonorova said.
"If Kyiv really wants to try and win back the trust of the people of Donbas, it should start implementing the agreements and prescriptions of the Set of Measures in the order specified there: in consultation and upon agreement with representatives from these territories, and first of all, enact the already passed law on the special status for Donbas," Nikonorova said.