LOC19:17
16:17 GMT
BRUSSELS, Oct 31 (KUNA) -- The planned 'elections' organised by self-appointed rebel groups in parts of Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions on Sunday "undermine efforts towards a resolution of the conflict," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement Friday.
"They violate Ukrainian laws ," he said and noted that statements by Russian officials that Russia would recognise these so-called 'elections' show that Russia continues its efforts to destabilise Ukraine.
"NATO Allies, as part of the broad international community, have made clear they will not recognise so-called separatist elections," he stressed.
On his part, Elmar Brok, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament,said "on 2 November, the self-proclaimed authorities in some parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions will organise pseudo presidential and parliamentary elections."
"The EU will not recognise these elections that would be conducted against Ukrainian law and therefore be illegitimate. Furthermore, such elections are in complete opposition with the letter and the spirit of the Minsk Protocol, and aim at derailing the peace process in the Donbass" he added in a statement. (end)
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