Foreign minister meets with OSCE ethnic minorities commissioner

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kostiantyn Hryshchenko has met with High Commissioner of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on National Minorities Knut Vollebaek, who is staying in Ukraine on a working visit as part of a regular dialogue with the Ukrainian side on issues of national minorities, UKRINFORM reports.

The Foreign Minister reiterated the unwavering support of Ukraine for the mandate of the OSCE high commissioner, which in modern conditions is relevant for all OSCE participating states.

Vollebaek expressed willingness to continue supporting the efforts of Ukrainian authorities to strengthen the legislative framework to ensure the rights of persons belonging to national minorities, including language policy, legal status and rights of formerly deported people.

"The sides positively assessed the level of interaction on these issues and reaffirmed their willingness to continue constructive dialogue on the rights of national minorities in Ukraine, as well as the rights of ethnic Ukrainian living in other states," the foreign ministry press service reported.