Ukraine: Swiss OSCE Chair offers measures to end violence and resume political route out of crisis

BERN, 19 February 2014 – OSCE Chairmanship Switzerland urges the Ukrainian authorities to do their utmost to defuse the menacing situation in the country and proposes a set of measures in a bid to end violence and bring about the resumption of political talks.

The package of potential measures includes the nomination of an impartial international facilitator, possibly working in tandem with a respected Ukrainian personality, and dispatching an international expert team to establish facts on violent incidents and human rights violations. The package is being presented to the Presidential Administration and the Foreign Ministry by the Swiss Ambassador to Ukraine on behalf of the Chairmanship.

Didier Burkhalter, Swiss Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office said immediate action was vital to stop the bloodshed and to calm a situation that was now spiralling in an extremely dangerous direction.

“It is time for everyone concerned to do all in their power to move this situation away from violence and towards a political solution.

The OSCE Chairmanship is currently looking at all its options to help turn these developments into a peaceful direction.”