Russia does not perceive granting Russian the status of a regional language in some regions of Ukraine as a concession and it should not be seen as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the Russian partners, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Russia Volodymyr Yelchenko said.
"I do believe that the issue of the Russian language is too politicized, and I would not name it a kind of concession or a bargaining chip in negotiations with Russia. First, the issue should be settled in the country for it not to be a subject of speculation," he said.
"Although there are a lot of comments aired by the Ukrainian politicians, experts and political analysts, but I have never heard the opinion, that that decision was made by Ukraine as a kind of concession or gesture towards the Russian Federation," Yelchenko said.
According to the ambassador, the majority of experts believes and openly says that it is the internal affair of the state and Ukraine has been moving towards its settlement not for one year.
"I do not see any special interest in this issue on the part of the Russian Federation," Yelchenko said.
As reported, after President Viktor Yanukovych signed the law on national language policy, the regional and city councils of eastern and southern Ukraine, one after another, have started granting Russian the status of the regional language.
Спасибі за Вашу активність, Ваше питання буде розглянуто модераторами найближчим часом
752
