Press Statement of Special Representative of OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Sajdik after Meeting of Trilateral Contact Group on 25 July 2018

MINSK, 25 July 2018 – 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 25 July 2018:

“Today, first of all, I would like to note that the “Harvest Ceasefire” agreed by the TCG is bringing results. On behalf of the TCG, I would like to note the following positive trends.

Firstly, according to the preliminary data provided by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM), since 1 July, 2018 the number of ceasefire violations has significantly dropped, as has the number of casualties among the civilian population. In particular, according to the SMM, no civilian deaths have been recorded since the cessation of fire entered into force.

Secondly, I would like to remind you that the total number of civilian casualties this year has dropped by more than half compared to the same period of the previous year. I hope that these notable trends shall continue, and I call on the sides to strictly adhere to the ceasefire in the future.

These issues were discussed today in the Security Working Group. While addressing them, the Co-ordinator of the Working Group, Ambassador, Ertugrul Apakan, emphasized the importance of disengagement of forces and hardware as well as withdrawal of heavy weapons.

The Economic Working Group continued its discussion of further steps to restore and improve the mobile communication of Vodafone-Ukraine in certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions (CADR and CALR, respectively).

The issue of water deliveries in the "Karbonyt" and "Voda Donbassa" supply systems were also duly considered.

The Co-ordinator of the Working Group, Per Fischer, welcomed the extension of the agreement on water deliveries in the "Karbonyt" supply system for a year ahead.

The Working Group on Humanitarian Issues continued its discussion on the exchange of detainees. Another topic was the improvement of conditions for crossing the contact line, including possibilities for proper repairs of the pathway to the bridge in Stanytsia Luhanska.

The Working Group on Political Issues further considered the implementation of the so-called ‘Steinmeier formula’, amnesty and modalities of local elections in CADR and CARL.

As you know, tomorrow (26.07.2018) Berlin will host Normandy Four meeting on the level of Political Directors. In the spirit of my previous statements, I would like to welcome the fact that the possible involvement of UN forces to resolve the conflict in the east of Ukraine will be the tomorrow's topic of discussion”.