MOSCOW, November 6 (RIA Novosti), Daria Chernyshova – The Minsk platform for negotiating a peaceful settlement of the crisis in Ukraine is still important and more efficient than the Geneva platform because it recognizes eastern Ukrainian militia, Vladimir Dzhabarov, acting head of Russia's Federation Council's foreign affairs committee, told RIA Novosti on Thursday.
"They [Minsk agreements] are not exhausted. This platform for negotiations remains [relevant]. And actually it is more efficient than Geneva platform, because Geneva does not recognize the militia – the representatives of DPR and LPR [Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics], and Minsk platform recognizes [them]. I think there is still a potential for this format that should be used," Dzhabarov said.
The Minsk agreement represents the outcome of a September 5 meeting involving representatives from Russia, Ukraine, the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. The sides agreed on a ceasefire and on September 19 signed a memorandum, specifying the details of its implementation.
Prior to that, top diplomats from Russia, the United States, the European Union and Ukraine met in Geneva on April 17 to devise a road map, which called for an end to the violence in the region, amnesty for all those involved in the fighting and a dialogue between state authorities and independence supporters.
Speaking about the prospect of further peace talks, Dzhabarov noted that the situation is still not quite clear.
"I think it will be clear after Rada [Ukrainian Parliament] gathers for its first sitting, after the government is formed, after the government's program toward these regions is defined, and how the Minsk agreements are observed," he said.
"I said before that the eighth and the ninth provisions of the Minsk agreements stipulate full cooperation of these regions with Kiev authorities and other regions of Ukraine over political, economic, social issues. So far there is a desire in the southeast, but Kiev does not express such a desire," Dzhabarov told RIA Novosti.
However not everyone agrees that Minsk is still a viable platform to discuss the Ukrainian conflict. Vladimir Bruter, an analyst with the International Institute of Humanitarian and Political Studies, said it has exhausted itself.
"As for the participation of LPR and DPR in negotiations, I believe it is possible only in the Minsk format, which proved expedient. But today I believe it has exhausted itself," Bruter said Thursday during a roundtable held at Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency.
"As for the direct talks between Kiev and leadership of LPR and DPR – they will not take place. As for the resumption of the Geneva format – it is possible, as well as any other format," he said, adding that Polish Foreign Minister Grzegorz Schetyna suggested the so-called Weimar format which includes Poland in the talks.
On November 2, the self-proclaimed republics held elections for the heads of local governments and representatives of legislative bodies. Ukraine's central authorities have refused to recognize the elections.
Earlier on Thursday, the DPR and LPR announced that they had prepared a new version of a peace plan to be discussed in upcoming reconciliation talks after Kiev withdrew a bill granting special status for the regions.
