MINSK, 27 January (BelTA) - A regular meeting of the tripartite contact group on Ukraine concluded in Minsk, spokesperson for Ukraine's former president Leonid Kuchma Darka Olifer said in her Facebook account, BelTA has learned.
"A meeting of the tripartite contact group in Minsk is over. Ceasefire and withdrawal of heavy weapons remain a key condition for the comprehensive solution of humanitarian, economic and political issues, and for the implementation of the Minsk agreements in general. Ukraine separately raised the issue of regaining control over the Ukrainian-Russian border. The issue of release of prisoners is still blocked by representatives of certain districts of Donetsk and Lugansk Oblasts,” Darka Olifer said in her account.
With regard to political matters Ukraine's position remains unchanged: elections in the parts of Donbass uncontrolled by Ukraine should be held in compliance with the Ukrainian legislation, with the participation of Ukrainian parties, Ukrainian journalists and international observers.
The working group on economic affairs continues to work on the Donbass infrastructure restoration issues, Darka Olifer informed. Among the issues on the agenda is the stable provision of Ukrainian CHP plants with coal. Work continues on power lines restoration. Demining is conducted every time restoration works on transmission lines are undertaken on new areas.
According to Leonid Kuchma's spokesperson, an agreement was reached on the mechanism for payment for water, which is consumed in certain districts of Lugansk Oblast, taking into account Russia's payment guarantees. "In fact, for the first time the part of Donbass uncontrolled by Ukraine recognized the problem of debts to the Ukrainian budget and the need to settle them," Darka Olifer said.
An agreement was reached on the need to undertake demining works in the villages of Krymskoye and Trekhizbenka which are located in the Ukraine-controlled part of Lugansk Oblast in order to restore the gas pipeline.
The participants of the meeting agreed that a checkpoint in Lugansk Oblast (Lisichansk-Gorskoe-Zolotoye-Pervomaysk-Stakhanov) will be opened by mid-February.
