Positive work in Geneva Discussions must be replicated in future, says outgoing OSCE Special Representative for Conflicts Andrii Deshchytsia
GENEVA, 18 December 2013 - The Ukrainian OSCE Chair's Special Representative for conflicts Ambassador Andrii Deshchytsia has concluded his last meeting of the Geneva International Discussions with a call to maintain the dynamics towards positive solutions.
Ambassador Deshchytsia will step down at the end of the Ukrainian OSCE Chairmanship at the end of 2013 with Ambassador Angelo Gnädiger representing the Swiss Chairmanship from 1 January onwards. Other co-chairs are EU Special Representative Philippe Lefort and UN representative Antti Turunen.
Deschytsia said he was satisifed with positive steps during 2013, and hoped to see the constructive mood carry in to future meetings. He continued to be concerned about the effect on-going fencing activities were having on local people and had invited those participating in the Ergneti Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) to visit the area to identify pragmatic solutions. He was, however, reassured that the area covered by the Mechanism was generally calm and stable and that the hotline was being used regularly and to good effect.
He welcomed reinvigorated approaches to investigate the fate of missing persons, including meetings he had facilitated with families and witnesses: "I hope that such meetings can become a regular fixture, giving additional impetus to our joint efforts to address this sensitive issue," he said.
Progress on OSCE implemented water projects on both sides of the dividing line were a positive step forward, he added, regretting that agreement on a technical workshop on dam safety and on the Tiriphoni irrigation channel remained elusive.
"It is clear that peace and security are achieved by repeated small steps. Let us focus on those small steps to address and resolve problems with patience and perseverance, and keep the constructive dynamics that have characterised this year for future work," he concluded.