No appropriate conditions for Russia-Ukraine constructive summit - Chernomyrdin

MOSCOW. February 23. KAZINFORM. There are still no appropriate conditions for a constructive meeting of the Russian and Ukrainian presidents, Russian Ambassador to Ukraine Viktor Chernomyrdin said in the Vesti Nedeli program of the Rossiya television channel on Sunday.

?At least, there is no subject of a possible meeting,? he said. Chernomyrdin refuted Ukrainian reports claiming alleged preparations for the summit. ?That is not so,? he said. ?What do you expect the presidents to discuss ? What agenda may they have? What items may the agenda have? Are there any documents to discuss and to sign, and who is drafting them?? he wondered. As for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry threat to announce him persona non grata, Chernomyrdin said that was nothing but ?nagging and attempts to start an argument with Russia. I do not know who may benefit from the possible scandal.? In the opinion of Chernomyrdin, the current state of Russia-Ukraine relations is abnormal. He believes they will improve eventually. ?This cannot go on for long. That must not be so and it won?t be. That is my firm belief,? he said. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry warned Chernomyrdin on February 17 that he might be announced persona non grata over his ?undiplomatic comments on Ukraine?. Chernomyrdin was invited to the ministry that day, and Foreign Minister Vladimir Ogryzko protested against his ?unfriendly and highly undiplomatic comments on Ukraine and the Ukrainian administration.? ?The actions of the ambassador strongly disagree with the Vienna Convention, diplomatic ethic and international laws. They are incompatible with the ambassadorial status,? the minister said; Kazinform cites Itar-Tass. Russian general consuls in Kharkov and Odessa and certain diplomats of the Russian embassy in Kiev also breach the Vienna Convention, the minister said. Article 9 of the Vienna Convention enables the host country ?to declare an ambassador or a diplomat persona non grata any time and without explaining its motivations,? the minister said.