Russia will accept "any agreement" between warring sides

Russia will accept "any agreement" between warring sides

BELGRADE -- Konstantin Kosachev says Russia will accept any agreement between Kiev and the regions of Lugansk and Donetsk that would be in the interest of all sides.

The chair of the the Russian Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs made the statement in Belgrade, where he on Sunday took part in Serbian State Day ceremonies as head of a delegation of the ruling United Russia party.

Kosachev commented on the peace agreement reached in Minsk last week to say the most important point was to respect the ceasefire.

"It is important to realize negotiations between the warring sides," he said, adding that there are "two platforms in Kiev."

The Beta agency quoted the Russian official as saying that one was to find a political solution to the crisis, "while the other is nationalist."

Kosachev said that the first platform reflected "the essence" of the Minsk deal - to reach an agreement between all sides, so that all sides' interests can be realized. The nationalist agenda, he said, had "a different approach."

"It is not acceptable to impose anyone's interests or conditions for any party," he was quoted as saying.

According to Kosachev, the Serbian presidency of the OSCE is "important."

"We know that the EU is pressuring Serbia to take a stance that coincides with that of the EU. We think that Serbia has a chance for the the OSCE to once again become a pan-European organization during its chairmanship - if it takes into account the interests of all members," he said, and wished Serbia luck in this job.

Referring to his participation in Statehood Day ceremonies in Belgrade, Kosachev said it was "a great honor and...