Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine Hug Mingarelli says local elections in certain Russian-occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions can be held if the Ukrainian political parties and media are free to participate in the campaign, according to his interview with UNIAN news agency.
”Local election can be held when the conditions are right to conduct elections according to OSCE criteria. This means that the Ukrainian political parties must be able to present candidates and to campaign, and Ukrainian media should be able as well to participate in the campaign,” Mingarelli said expressing his position regarding the assumption of German ambassador to Ukraine Ernst Reichel that elections in Donbas are possible in the presence of Russian troops.
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The diplomat also said that the participants in the talks on the peaceful settlement of the conflict in Donbas must reach a political decision that will allow the holding of elections.
”They [the negotiating sides] must reach a political solution, which will hold elections. And then, on this basis, progressively, Ukraine should regain control of these territories with the help of international community,” he added.
Mingarelli went on to say that the European Union intends to take an active part in the reconstruction of Donbas.
”We would like to be at the forefront of the reconstruction of the social and economic infrastructure in Donbas once there is a political solution,” he said.
