Declaration by Ambassador Martin Sajdik after today's meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group‎ in Minsk

MINSK, 26 August 2016 - Ambassador Martin Sajdik, the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group on the implementation of the peace plan in the East of Ukraine, made the following press statement after today's meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group ‎and its four Working Groups in Minsk today:

Working Group on Economic Issues:

On 18 August an agreement on water supply was signed between two companies of Ukraine and ORLO “Popasnyansky Vodokanal” and “Dzherelo Novogo Zhittya”. In order for the agreement to enter into force, a supplementary agreement on the details of the functioning of water meters remains to be signed. This is a significant step forward after many months of negotiations.

The railway junction Mykytivka-Mayorsk has been damaged again. It has to be rebuilt, but in order to ensure coal transport, another junction may put into operation on the territory of ORLO. Specific measures are under discussion.

The Working Group on Political Issues, as for the last couple of sessions, continued its exchange on the usual topics, in particular modalities for local elections, but also amnesty.

Members of the Working Group on Humanitarian Issues unanimously reiterated their commitment to work together on safeguarding the rights and welfare of children affected by the conflict. Participants also agreed to co-operate on mechanisms for identifying missing persons through an exchange with the ICRC.

I would like to share my disappointment that we did still not receive a clear commitment from ORLO to open the crossing point of Zolote. We heard from Co-ordinator Toni Frisch, who recently visited both sides of the proposed crossing point, that the Ukrainian side has undertaken all necessary steps which would allow it to open the crossing point within a few days, in contrast to the ORLO side. Thus, the situation continues that there is no crossing point for cars and for delivery of humanitarian assistance in Luhansk region.

The Working Group on Security Issues continued discussions on disengagement of forces at the contact line. The agreements on the withdrawal of heavy and smaller-calibre weapons were also discussed. Ambassador Apakan drew attention to the increasing number of assaults and intimidation directed against SMM staff. I supported Ambassador Apakan on this issue during the TCG consultations.

The Security WG also discussed the ceasefire issue. In this regard, I would like to make the following statement:

The Trilateral Contact Group together with the representatives of Certain Areas of Donetsk and Luhansk expressed the necessity for a permanent ceasefire in connection with the beginning of the new school year, starting at midnight on 31 August.

I personally call on all parties to express their support of this statement at the highest level.