Press Statement of Special Representative of OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ambassador Martin Sajdik after Meeting of Trilateral Contact Group on 5 December 2017

MINSK, 6 December 2017 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Martin Sajdik, made the following statement to the press after the meeting of the TCG ‎and its Working Groups in Minsk on 5 November 2017:

“According to the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, the number of ceasefire violations in the east of Ukraine is, unfortunately, still very high.

Therefore, today, like in the previous meeting, security of the civilian population in the conflict area as well as compliance with the cessation of fire were again among the highest priorities for the TCG and its Working Groups.

Once again, the participants stressed the necessity for strict adherence to the ceasefire. This is especially important for the areas where critical infrastructure is located, in particular in winter conditions.

As I reported last time, at the meeting of the Security Working Group, security guarantees for the repair works of the wooden ramps of the bridge at the crossing point in Stanytsia Luhanska were confirmed for December 9 and 10, 2017. As I said last time, to facilitate the repair works, the crossing point in Stanytsia Luhanska will be closed on these days.

With the to the safety of the population, the Working Group also took note of the progress in the vegetation clearing and demining works at all the crossing points, including Zolote. It was noted that these works should be completed by December 20.

In addition, the Working Group discussed issues related to the disengagement of forces and hardware, as well as the withdrawal of heavy weapons.

In the focus of the Humanitarian Working Group was, of course, the exchange of detainees. As reported before, the exchange lists have already been agreed. Today, the Working Group discussed some technical issues. The sides have not yet determined the date for the exchange, but they are committed to accomplish it before the New Year and Christmas festivities.

The Economic Working Group continued to discuss the issues of arrears payment for the supplied water and the future contracts for water deliveries in the “Karbonyt system”, as well as the operation of the company “Voda Donbasa”.

The Working Group also advanced in the development of possible procedures for the payment of arrears to former employees of the Ukrainian Railways company in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

The Political Working Group continued to discuss the issues related to the definition of the modalities of the so-called ‘Steinmeier formula’ as well as its future implementation.”