Chernysh says extending law on Donbas special status is 'necessary'
Ukraine's Minister for Temporarily Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons of Ukraine Vadym Chernysh supports extending the validity of the law on a special order of local self-government in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions (ORDLO).
"The law actually did not work in practice, because Russia does not meet obligations under the Minsk agreements. The world community, including Ukraine, says that the Minsk agreements are now a model for solving this conflict between Ukraine and Russia, and it demonstrates to the whole world that Ukraine is really fulfilling these agreements. It demonstrates that it has already done all it could for their implementation. Obviously, Russia has done nothing," Chernysh said in a blitz interview with the Kyiv-based Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
Chernysh said if the law is not extended Ukraine would be giving Russia an opportunity to declare Kyiv's non-compliance with the Minsk agreements.
Chernysh also stated that he does not see any contradictions in the law "On local self-government in ORDLO" and the law "On the peculiarities of state policy to ensure the state sovereignty of Ukraine over ORDLO."
The minister said this law was presented to all involved international partners who studied it and concluded that it does not impede implementation of the Minsk agreements.
As earlier reported, the law on local self-government in ORLDO was adopted in September 2014 and entered into force on October 18, 2014 for a period of three years.
On October 6, 2017, parliament extended the validity period of the law on a special order of local self-government in ORDLO for one year, or until October 18, 2017.
U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker said that Ukraine would be at a disadvantage if it does not extend the law on the special status of the Donbas.
On August 4, Parliament Speaker Andriy Parubiy said that the decision on whether to extend this law will probably be taken by parliament in October after consultations with Ukraine's international partners.
On August 6, Ukraine's representative in the humanitarian subgroup of the Trilateral Contact Group, First Deputy Rada Speaker Iryna Gerashchenko, said that she in September would discuss with her colleagues the extension of the law on a special order of local self-government in ORDLO.
