LUHANSK. Feb 15 (Interfax) - The initiative by Russia's State Duma to recognize the self-proclaimed Donetsk (DPR) and Luhansk (LPR) People's Republics does not run counter to the Minsk Agreements, Kyiv itself is rejecting Donbas through its own actions, LPR foreign minister Vladislav Deinego said.
"The Duma initiative contains nothing that contradicts the Minsk Package of Measures. We have been working on strengthening cross-border cooperation, and we continue to do so. Clauses to that effect are contained in the package of measures. A decision recognizing our sovereignty would broaden opportunities for such cooperation," Deinego told Interfax on Tuesday.
"We welcome the decision [the State Duma] made today. However, the direct decision on recognition will be made by the Russian leadership, and we will respect any decision of the Russian leadership following the State Duma's initiative," Deinego said.
The Minsk Package of Measures, which came into force seven years ago today, "unlike the previous arrangements, provided for specific steps and their timetable. Over these seven years, Ukraine has done practically nothing. For our part, we made titanic efforts to get Ukraine to honor its obligations. We even tried to do something for Ukraine, drafting documents, initiatives both with regard to the law on a special status, and with regard to constitutional amendments. Ukraine has rejected everything. Essentially, Ukraine rejected Donbas and continues doing so," Deinego said.
The Duma initiative does not contravene the Package of Measures at a time when "deputies in the Verkhovna Rada, through their today's resolution, have effectively recognized the DPR and LPR while denying us the right to exist," he said.