Press Statement of Special Representative of OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Sajdik after meeting of Trilateral Contact Group on 5 July 2017

MINSK, 6 July 2017 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Martin Sajdik, made the following statement to the press after the meeting of the TCG ‎and its working groups in Minsk on 5 July 2017:

“As you know, the protection of the civilian population in armed conflict is a priority of our work. In this respect, I would like to note the importance of the unanimously adopted Resolution of the UN Security Council of 30 June 2017. The document calls upon all parties to armed conflicts to end any indiscriminate use of mines and explosive devices in violation of international humanitarian law. This, unfortunately, remains a very urgent issue for the population in eastern Ukraine.

With a view to ensuring the safety and security for the civilian population and at the initiative of the Working Group on Security, today the TCG adopted the following decision:

‘TCG members and representatives of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions have noted that as a result of the ‘harvest ceasefire’ announced on June 21, 2017, shelling has decreased. This ceasefire remains a major expectation of the civilian population in the conflict zone.

In this regard, the parties reiterate their commitment to the continuation of the ‘harvest ceasefire’, which is indispensable for the people’s daily life, including for the conduct of agricultural work.’

Personally, I do hope that the leaders of the Normandy format will find an opportunity to support this decision during their forthcoming negotiations in Hamburg.

There is also positive news in the humanitarian field: the parties acknowledged the completion of additional checks on the free will of detainees in relation to the conflict (the so-called attestation mechanism). In this regard, I would like to express my gratitude to the Ukrainian Ombudsperson Ms. Lutkovska for her invaluable contribution to this work. The result shows that, even on complex issues, progress is possible, provided there is trust and good will.

The Economic Working Group continued to discuss the issue of water supplies to certain areas of Luhansk region. As a result of regular debt repayments, water supplies have recently remained stable. Today, the parties agreed on the establishment of a more sustainable payment mechanism.

Finally, the Working Group on Political Issues continued to deliberate on the complex of topics related to the so-called ‘Steinmeier formula’ in the context of the discussions at recent meetings of the Normandy Four. TCG participants agreed that it is essential to continue this work.”