OSCE Chairperson Dačić urges sides to respect ceasefire in southeast Ukraine

BELGRADE, 23 March 2015 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Serbia’s Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić today expressed his concern over an increase in fighting in southeast Ukraine and urged all sides to respect the ceasefire.

“An outbreak of heavy fighting east of Mariupol over the last two days is unacceptable. I call on all parties to strictly respect the ceasefire and continue implementing the Minsk agreements in line with the package of measures agreed on 12 February,” said Dačić.

“Throughout the last month we have been witnessing improvements in the security situation and the parties who have committed themselves to stop the fighting, to prevent the further loss of life, and to implement the package, must ensure that such trend continues.”

“The OSCE will continue to do its utmost to help lower the tensions and promote normalisation of the situation.”

Since 22 March the area of Shirokyne, east of Mariupol, has been a scene of heavy fighting between the Ukrainian Armed Forces and member of the so called “Donetsk People’s Republic”.