Statement by Ambassador Martin Sajdik after today’s meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group‎ in Minsk

MINSK, 7 September 2016 - Ambassador Martin Sajdik, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) on the implementation of the peace plan in eastern Ukraine, made the following press statement after today's meeting of the TCG ‎and its four Working Groups in Minsk:

“The Trilateral Contact Group and representatives from certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions have expressed their satisfaction with the considerable improvement of the security situation in the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine, following the TCG’s appeal to fully observe the ceasefire made on 26 August in connection with the start of the academic year on 1 September. This is based on the assessment provided by Ambassador Ertugul Apakan, Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) and co-ordinator of the Working Group on Security Issues. This group, as well as the TCG, reiterated the necessity to undertake all measures to ensure that the ceasefire is fully and continuously observed.

Participants of the Working Group on Humanitarian Issues raised the issue of internally displaced persons and refugees. The co-ordinator underlined the importance of finding durable solutions to their difficult humanitarian situation, especially in view of the upcoming winter. The needs of particularly vulnerable groups, especially IDPs and refugees, will be further addressed in the upcoming sessions.

The Working Group on Economic Affairs and Rehabilitation discussed the re-opening of the additional railway line Popasnaya-Stakhanov in its latest meetings. The sides stressed the necessity of restoring the line and re-launching train transportation on this route. The sides also agreed on the necessity of complete restoration and secure railway communication at the junction Mikitivska-Mayorsk.

The representatives of the governments of Ukraine and of the Russian Federation agreed to hold a meeting of the leadership of their respective ministries in Minsk on 21 September 2016 to discuss issues concerning the restoration of electrical grids in the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine.

Discussions in the Working Group on Political Issues focused on modalities of local elections in certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as well as on best international practices of election and electoral campaign financing. Participants of the group also exchanged views on the issue of amnesty.”

This English text is a translation of the original Russian language version.