Disengagement is a key step towards full and sustainable ceasefire in Ukraine, say OSCE Chairmanship’s Special Representative and SMM Chief Monitor

VIENNA, 5 October 2016 – Disengagement is a key step towards a full and sustainable ceasefire in Ukraine and the sides need to do more to make it a reality on the ground, said the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group Martin Sajdik and the Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine Ertugrul Apakan in their addresses yesterday to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna.

Sajdik highlighted the positive effects of the renewed ceasefire commitments of the sides, starting with the new school year on 1 September. “Although violations continue to be observed in some hotspots, we have managed to considerably curb the number of violations and, most importantly, the number of civilian victims,” Sajdik said.

Reflecting on the framework decision on disengagement signed on 21 September, Sajdik noted that this agreement is a new instrument for building confidence, but that disengagement in three areas, namely Zolote, Stanytsia Luhanska and Petrivske, can only be a starting point. “I hope that further disengagement areas will be negotiated and established in the near future.”

Sajdik expressed his confidence about the possibility to agree soon on a comprehensive package establishing an operative sequence of security and political elements of the Minsk agreements. He underlined that major humanitarian and economic issues also remain unresolved, but pointed to “encouraging signals” in the respective Working Groups of the Trilateral Contact Group. He in particular emphasized the urgent need for repair works at the pedestrian bridge in Stanytsia Luhanska where the current conditions place extreme hardship on the local population. “I welcome that a few days ago representatives from certain areas of Luhansk region confirmed that they would now support the necessary repair works,” Sajdik said.

In his address, Apakan emphasized that the SMM has prepared for, and is ready to, monitor the disengagement process, but it needs full and safe access. This has not fully been provided by the sides, and the SMM continues to meet restrictions in the three areas. Apakan stressed that the role of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) in supporting such access and that a co-ordinated and synchronized disengagement is vital.

He reiterated that all involved should carry out the responsibilities specified in the decision. “So far the SMM has noted only few signs of disengagement,” he said.

Apakan concluded that there are three vital measures to a sustainable ceasefire: disengagement, mine action and withdrawal of weapons. “The presence of mines and other explosive hazards remains a serious risk affecting on a daily basis the people’s safety. So far little effort to implement these measures has been observed. Moreover, not all the weapons are withdrawn and the SMM continues to observe weapons present in the security zone,” he said.

“The disengagement of forces, the removal of weapons and most of all, marking, fencing and removal of mines, unexploded ordnance and explosive remnants of war, will alleviate the situation for civilians who continue to pay the price for the violations,” said Apakan.