06/10/2015 (Agence Europe) - EU hails decision of pro-Russian separatists in East Ukraine to postpone their local elections. On Tuesday 6 October, the European Union hailed the announcement by the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk to postpone their local elections until 2016. These elections were initially planned in Donetsk on 18 October and in Luhansk on 1 November. According to the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, this announcement will allow preparations to be made for proper conditions in which to hold local elections - in line with Ukrainian legislation and the standards of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Due implementation “will represent a fundamental step towards full implementation of the Minsk agreements”, Mogherini's spokesperson added, saying that this announcement, together with the recently reached agreement on the withdrawal of smaller weapons, “offers renewed hope for a sustainable political settlement of the conflict, based on full respect of international law and Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity”. On 2 October, Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany agreed on the postponement of these elections (see EUROPE 11403). (CG)