KIEV, Aug. 3 – Leaders of Mejlis, the ruling body of Crimean Tatars, the third-largest ethnic minority in Crimea, on Tuesday refused to join a scheduled meeting with President Viktor Yanukovych in disagreement over other invitees.
The development signals challenges are ahead for the government in trying to get cooperation from the Crimea Tatars in solving the problem of alleged illegal settlers in Crimea and on other issues.
Refat Chubarov, the deputy leader of Mejlis, said the group had refused to attend the meeting after the Yanukovych administration suddenly added to the list of those invited a group of people that are in opposition to the Mejlis.
“The meeting with the president will take place only in the format of a meeting with the ruling body of Crimean Tatars, not with the so-called ‘representatives’ of Crimean Tatars,” Chubarov said.
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