The head of the Council of Europe’s local democracy watchdog has called for dialogue and compromise on Ukraine’s decentralisation ahead of a crucial summit in Paris. Jean-Claude Frecon, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities (CLRAE), told Eurofora that postponing local elections in the separatist-held Donetsk and Luhansk regions could help build a real dialogue to end the conflict. “If we can hope that a certain dialogue could be established, then we have to try that,” Frecon said. He stressed that any solution must respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity, but allowing a degree of autonomy for the Donbas region could be a way forward. Frecon also warned against separatist trends across Europe, citing examples like Scotland and Catalonia, and made clear the Council of Europe does not support fragmentation. The summit in Paris on Friday will bring together leaders from France, Germany, Russia, and Ukraine to discuss the Minsk peace process. Frecon expressed hope that all sides, including representatives of the separatists, would sit around the same table. The CLRAE is set to send a team of 30 observers to Ukraine’s upcoming local elections, alongside 10 from the Parliamentary Assembly.
Article and image source: eurofora.net
