TBILISI (Sputnik), Svetlana Alexandrova — In February 2015, a peace agreement was signed between Ukraine’s conflicting sides in Minsk, after talks of the Normandy Four countries, comprising Russia, Germany, Ukraine and France. The deal stipulates a full ceasefire, weapons withdrawal from the line of contact in eastern Ukraine, an all-for-all prisoner exchange and constitutional reforms, which would give a special status to the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics.
"On [the issue of] Ukraine, it is a very complicated situation because of the Minsk agreements but we don't have any other option. A peaceful solution of the conflict is the only option," Tsereteli, who is a member of the Georgian delegation to the OSCE PA, said on the sidelines of the organization's annual meeting in Tbilisi, Georgia.
He stated that, if elected as the OSCE PA president, he will try to facilitate the implementation of the front provisions of the Minsk agreements to a greater extent and will work, together with other colleagues and the OSCE agencies and institutions, with both sides in the conflict.
"It will depend on the political will of the Russian and of the Ukrainian authorities. We cannot achieve any agreement without compromises," Tsereteli noted.
Tsereteli also highlighted the need to start a new phase of negotiations between the sides in Ukrainian conflict, noting that the Russian delegation to the OSCE PA confirmed its readiness for the dialogue.
The election of the OSCE PA president and vice-presidents is expected to be held on Tuesday, the last day of the the organization's annual meeting. Aside from Tsereteli, the candidates for the presidential post include two other OSCE PA vice-presidents, namely Austria’s Christine Muttonen and France’s Alain Neri.
