OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Rama welcomes agreement on additional measures to strengthen ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, urges further positive steps

TIRANA, 23 July 2020 – The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Prime Minister and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania, Edi Rama, welcomed the agreement reached yesterday by the Trilateral Contact Group, with the participation of representatives of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, regarding additional measures to strengthen the ceasefire, aiming to ensure compliance with a comprehensive, sustainable and unlimited ceasefire. The agreement is due to come into force from 27 July 2020 until the comprehensive settlement of the conflict.

“This agreement is an important step toward a full, sustainable and comprehensive ceasefire, as well as the fulfilment of one of the main conclusions of the Paris Normandy Summit. A much-awaited real cessation of fire would surely ease also the hardship of the civilian population in the conflict zone,” Rama said. Expressing support to the efforts in the Trilateral Contact Group and the Normandy Four format, he stressed the need now to build on the political will demonstrated and strongly encouraged the full implementation of the Minsk agreements and outstanding conclusions reached at the Paris Normandy Summit in December 2019.

The Chairperson-in-Office underlined the key role of the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) in monitoring and supporting the implementation of the Minsk agreements. “I reiterate my full backing to the work of the SMM. The dedicated women and men of the Mission must be ensured the necessary conditions to fully implement the Mission’s mandate throughout the country, including free movement and safety and security for themselves and their equipment,” Rama added.

Contributing to the peaceful resolution of the crisis in and around Ukraine and making a difference on the ground is a top priority of the 2020 Albanian OSCE Chairmanship. “We will continue supporting the improvement of the security situation and easing of the hardship of civilians affected by the conflict in eastern Ukraine,” the Chairperson-in-Office concluded.