Why Nuland urges “hit the gas” in addressing the issue of elections in the DNI and LC, and Zakharchenko puts an ultimatum
Donbass is not going to tolerate the delay in the implementation of the Minsk agreements on Ukraine and wait for years when Kiev “deign” to fulfill their obligations and take the necessary laws, wrote in his blog the head of the DND Alexander Zakharchenko. According to him, if Ukraine does not fulfill its obligations until the autumn of this year, the elections in the Republic still takes place.
“In any case, I have repeatedly said that the local elections we need ourselves for the end of rebuilding the state. This means that endure forever, we will not. If the EU and the US will not force Kiev to fulfill its obligations in a reasonable and foreseeable time frame, then we will hold the election themselves, according to its laws. Foreseeable and reasonable time, I believe this 2016-th year. It is clear that by the summer it wouldn’t make it, as we are interested in observing all formalities, including, on the Ukrainian side. But by the autumn — is quite real.
Here’s to autumn we are willing to suffer. And then — winter period in conditions of economic blockade by Ukraine demands that Donetsk authorities much effort. So we need a legitimate local authority. To wait until Kiev formed a special political combination, we will not. Let Washington pushes this combination today while you still have time”, — said Zakharchenko.
These words came in one day with the need to speed up the implementation of the Minsk agreements, including the holding of elections in the Donbass, expressed during the visit to Moscow by U.S. assistant Secretary of state Victoria Nuland, where she held talks with representatives of the Ministry of foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and assistant to the Russian President Vladislav Surkov.
Nuland, after consultation, said that the implementation of the Minsk agreements is the time to step on the gas”, said the press Secretary of the USA Embassy in Russia will Stevens in Twitter.
This Nuland said that the US wish a speedy implementation of the Minsk agreements on Ukraine and does not recognize the election results in DND and LNR carried out in violation of these agreements.
“We do not recognize the results, and also nobody recognizes in the international community, any election, if their conduct in the Donbass outside the Minsk agreement and without complying with the conditions that these elections should be Ukrainian, to meet the Ukrainian standards and those of the OSCE,” she said. “The fact that a group of people decided to hold elections in the Donbass, will not lead to peace and security.”
“Before we are deeply immersed in all aspects of the Minsk talks, how we can strengthen security, improve access of the OSCE to move forward in political commitments, including the preparations for the elections in the Donbass”, — said Victoria Nuland about the meeting with Vladislav Surkov, adding that though the United States and are not included in the “channel four”, they work in parallel with the representatives of Kiev and Moscow. “The US wants to implement the Minsk agreements as soon as possible. Now is the time to press on the gas and see the agreement implemented,” she said.
The assistant Secretary also confirmed that the US is willing to remove that part of the sanctions against Russia, which were imposed because of the events in the Donbas, after the implementation of the Minsk agreements: “in the words of our President, if and when the Minsk agreements are fully implemented, sanctions can be lifted”.
Recall that the local elections in the Donbas are one of the main concluding points of the Minsk agreements, prior to which Kiev should change the Constitution by agreeing on the text with LDNR), to adopt a law on special status of Donbas, Amnesty to an exchange of prisoners. Elections should be held under a separate law that will also have to accept the agreement with Donetsk and Lugansk.
However, progress on any point not reached. As for the elections, the authorities DND and LNR not just tolerated their elections under pressure from the West and under the promise to put pressure on Kiev to accelerate the implementation of the Minsk agreements. However, Kiev has consistently emphasized the impossibility of holding elections in the foreseeable future.
In early spring, the Deputy head of the Central election Commission of UkraineAndriy Mahera said that the local elections in the Donbass may be held no earlier than two years. In turn, the General Director of the Committee of voters of Ukraine Oleksiy Koshel expressed the opinion that in the best case, the elections in the Donbass can be held in five years, in the worst — ten years or more.
It is worth noting that while the German and the French side repeatedly in a very sharp form has given Kyiv to understand that elections, as well as the implementation of other paragraphs of the Minsk Protocol, to be held during the 2016 year.
Note that on may 18, speaking at a meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Sofia, foreign Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin said that the political process in Donbas, including the holding of local elections could be discussed only after Russia fulfils the Minsk agreements.
“Ukraine emphasizes that only the full implementation by Russia of the Minsk accords and the demilitarization of the Donbass in the framework of International missions for security can be a reliable transition to the stage of political settlement. Otherwise, it is impossible to talk about the future of the political process, including the preparations for local elections”, — said the Minister.
Previously Klimkin said that during the meeting of heads of ministries of foreign Affairs “Channel four” in Berlin failed to reach a consensus with the Russian side on the modalities for the elections:
“We have not come to an agreement. The Russian side presented their own versions of the electoral legislation. But I told Mr Lavrov that we are able to write to the Ukrainian legislation, and any advice we do not need”, — he said. “so in this matter we have no progress, and we will work on this issue further.”
Note that on may 17-18 at the talks in the Belarusian capital was planned to discuss the law on elections in the Donbas and the law on Amnesty of participants of events in the South-East of Ukraine, however the subgroup has not begun due to the lack of an official representative of Ukraine.
As stated by the representative of the LC Rodion Miroshnik, the reason for the failure of the meeting was the release of the Ukrainian group of negotiators, ex-Secretary of security CouncilVladimir Gorbulin, who has always taken a tough stance — announced in the press the beginning of the military campaign Kiev is not only against the Donbas, but the Russian Crimea. A few days before the departure Gorbulin a group of negotiators from Ukraine left another “hawk” — Roman Immortal.
— To hold elections in the territories they control, the wise may at any time, even before the fall, ” says the Director of the Center for Eurasian studies Vladimir Kornilov.
— Question: what to hold them, if they will not be recognized even by Russia? In the DNI and LC developed a system of temporary administration, which operates without elections. Moreover, in conditions of war (and the war could resume if the final disruption of the Minsk process) any election will be meaningless. So the leaders of the breakaway republics of Donbass there is no point to rush it.
“SP”: — is it a Coincidence that it’s a pretty sharp statement Zakharchenko coincided with the visit of Nuland to Moscow, the results of which she made a statement that the United States recognize the elections “only in the framework of the Minsk process?
— Given the number of times Zakharchenko said such, and how many times has Vairocana Nuland on Russia and Ukraine, it was not surprising and match the statement with her next visit.
“SP”: — the Phrase “step on the gas” from the mouth Nuland sounds good? Or is it another pathetic trick, something like a “reset button”, which would have no consequences?
— Well, we all know that Washington, speaking about the Minsk process in the first place does not mean the elections in the Donbass, and a couple of other items of the agreement. In particular, about the Ukrainian control over the border (which would strangle the DNI and LC). So no need to regard statements by Nuland as “separatist”.
“SP”: — Zakharchenko said that local elections are necessary for state building. But it was done somehow without them for two years. In fact, why round of elections of mayors of cities such hype? After all, the main election — the election of heads of republics and parliaments held…
— Yes, local elections are necessary for state-building. But state-building is impossible in conditions of war. Thus, you need to understand that the primary task: this is not an election for the election and the start of dialogue between Kiev and the Donbass about the future rules of peaceful coexistence, forcing Kiev to such a dialogue. In this case, the election (or rather, the conversations about them) are one of the instruments of coercion.
“SP”: — Yesterday’s breakdown of talks of the contact group just under the electoral act due to the release of the Ukrainian delegation Volodymyr Gorbulin to the post means that Kiev is no pressure don’t give in? Or is it the opposite, squeezing the “hawks” for the successful implementation of the “Minsk”?
— Gorbulin has long been considered a “downed pilot” and not so much in the process in Kiev. In the same way as Immortal, have abandoned the talks. Just many Ukrainian politicians understand that, whatever decision would be adopted in the end in Minsk, it will not satisfy the radicals. Accordingly, there is a chance to become a corpse. Not only political. Well, Garbolino and why is it necessary?
“SP”: — Today, many experts say that Kiev forces tighten all the time. Whether so it? How much he still is going to pan out? What is waiting for Poroshenko, what does he expect? Or is it just an attempt to stall for time as much as possible, and there, maybe something will change?
— Poroshenko is trying to slip “between the drops”, as did other Ukrainian President before him. However, he did not notice that the street is not spitting rain, as it was under Kravchuk or Kuchma, and it is pouring rain…
— The authorities proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics have once again confirmed their commitment to the implementation of the Minsk agreements, — said the political analyst to the international monitoring organization CIS-EMO Stanislav Bychok.
Even if the Ukrainian side is not always willing or able to perform its part of the peace Protocol. Here we are talking more about the support of its negotiability within the framework of international politics, and not about the desire to hold local elections, which are obviously not in themselves have any significant value.
“SP”: — the Words Zakharchenko is a reaction to the statements Nuland, who said that he recognizes the elections only if they pass in accordance with the “Minsk”? An attempt to spur the West to actively put pressure on Poroshenko?
— In the West the dominant role played by the “far West” in the United States. On the other hand, there is the “middle West”, which represents the European Union or, more specifically, Germany. For “far West” more than comfortable to have a frozen conflict on the borders of the German and Russian spheres of influence. Thus, on the one hand, constrained the growth of Russia, and, on the other, almost neutralized the possibility of normalization of relations or even an Alliance between Russia and “the near West”.
Victoria Nuland, representing the interests of his country, at the same time must consider the interests of Germany, which, unlike the U.S., tired from the two years imposed her sanctions war with Russia. Germany understood that in supporting the coup in Ukraine, in the end, was the loser, not having achieved anything for myself, but putting on some of the burden on the peaceful settlement erupted on the borders of the Ukraine conflict. In this sense, the political normalization in the Donbas, which achieves Alexander Zakharchenko, objectively in the interests not only of the DNI and the LC, but also of Russia and Germany.
“SP”: — Why came Nuland? Confirm everything that has been said a hundred and fifty times before?
— From any visits of foreign dignitaries, particularly events in the crisis, decided to wait for some crucial decisions and political breakthroughs. In fact, everything usually goes fairly routine: “I came, I saw, stated that there is no much change”. Someone has to say it.
“SP”: — Nuland said that elections should be held exactly in the framework of the Minsk process,” not on duty “according to the Ukrainian legislation”, etc. — that is the law, coordinated with LDNR. Whether it is understood as a sign of commitment to bring the Minsk process to the end?
— The United States, as well as Russia, have their own interests in the international arena. These interests can be referred to as the Minsk process and the peacekeeping operation in Syria. These interests may be the same as in the interests of third countries, and to go counter to them. Peace in the Donbas — in the interests of both Russia and Ukraine, and the people’s Republic. But with regard to the interests of the United States? If we assume that tomorrow the conflict in the Donbass will pass exclusively in the political mainstream, and military clashes will end once and for all, then the US would have fewer ways to pressure Russia. In this case, the US interest in Ukraine will decline, since Ukraine is for the United States, of course, is not an end but a means. And thus decrease and support, including financial, which Kiev receives through the patronage of Washington.
In this regard, I do not see the possibility of the end of the conflict in the Donbass, and, therefore, the full implementation of “Minsk” in the near future. A realistic forecast is a frozen conflict. The status of the Transnistrian Moldovan Republic is not defined for twenty years. I see no reasons why the status of the DNI and LC will be solved two years after their proclamation.
“SP”: — Why the election of mayors is so important? Why so much controversy around them?
— In the current environment it is difficult to find less significant for Donbass problem than local elections. However, as we know from stories about porridge from an axe, in fact, “the axe” is not important, but other important ingredients. And this is peace negotiations and the transfer of military confrontation to a political level. The other output of the Donbas crisis has not.
