Kiev, March 3 (IANS): Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced on Tuesday the start of a constitutional reform process, one of the 13 points agreed upon during the Minsk agreement to put an end to the armed conflict in the eastern region of the country, Efe news agency reported.

The constitutional reform "will be a lengthy, important and necessary process". said the head of state, quoted by his press office, after enacting a constitutional commission.

He explained that the signing of this decree was a "new and increasingly crucial stage of the constitutional reform".

Poroshenko acknowledged that the decision to strengthen the judiciary and take steps against corruption must be accompanied by local reform and decentralisation of power.

Relinquishing power to eastern regions, endorsed by a constitutional amendment, is part of the agreement signed on February 12 in Minsk, with the approval of leaders from Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany.

At the same time, the Ukrainian president stressed that constitutional reform "should leave no chance for those who seek so-called federalisation, which actually means a break-up of Ukraine".

Federalising Ukraine has long been a rallying point called for by pro-Russian separatists, a condition apparently necessary for their participation in a peace process, and a demand backed by Moscow.

However, in last September's first round of negotiations between representatives of Kiev and the separatists, with the mediation of Russia and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the issue of federalisation was left off the agenda.