Press Statement of the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Martin Sajdik after the Meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group on 27 October 2017

MINSK, 27 October 2017 –Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Martin Sajdik, made the following statement to the press after the meeting of the TCG ‎and its Working Groups in Minsk on 27 October 2017:

During our previous meetings, I have repeatedly stressed that the protection of civilians in the context of armed conflict is the main task of the TCG.

In this regard, I would like to note that, unfortunately, at the beginning of this week, the number of ceasefire violations has significantly increased, especially in the areas of Svitlodarsk, Popasna, Avdiivka, Yasynovata and Donetsk airport.

The issue of compliance with the ceasefire was therefore the major priority today, both in the TCG and in the Security Working Group.

Once again I call on the sides to renew their commitment to the ceasefire, announced at the TCG on the occasion of the beginning of the school year, to return to the earlier commitments on withdrawal of heavy weapons, and to ensure the unimpeded, safe and reliable access of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission throughout the conflict territory.

The Humanitarian Working Group focused again on the exchange of detainees and the issuance of personal documents to previously released persons. On the eve of his visit to the Luhansk region, the Coordinator, Ambassador Toni Frisch, called for the humane treatment of the detainees. I personally urge the sides to demonstrate compassion and do everything possible to release the detainees until the New Year and Christmas holidays.

Participants of the Economic Working Group considered the possibility of paying off debts to former employees of the Ukrainian Railways in Certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions (CADR and CALR). In addition, the Working Group paid attention to the topic of water supply and security of critical infrastructure. The Group agreed that the negotiations on future water supplies in the "Karbonyt" system should begin in the coming days.

The Political Working Group discussed the issues related to the modalities of implementation of the so-called ‘Steinmeier formula’ in the context of the extension of the Law on special status in CADR and CALR and the negotiations in the Normandy format”.