OSCE Chief Monitor Ertugrul Apakan welcomes recommitment to ceasefire in eastern Ukraine

KYIV, 23 August 2017 – The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) welcomes the recommitment to ceasefire by the Trilateral Contact Group and other signatories of the Minsk agreements, said Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan, the Chief Monitor of the SMM, in a statement today.

“This is an encouraging joint, political signal from all signatories. It is vital that corresponding orders are issued to all units on both sides of the contact line without delay, and effective disciplinary measures are put in place to ensure that spoilers – those intent on undermining this joint recommitment – are held to account. These measures should be clearly communicated to units and formations on both sides of the contact line and reflected in their codes of conduct, regulations and instructions.”

“It is also essential that the signatories now take measures without delay to enable effective monitoring of compliance with their renewed commitment. This in turn will entail the long-overdue clearance of all remaining mines, co-ordinated by the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination; and decisive action to deal effectively with those who threaten, intimidate or harass SMM monitors or interfere with the Mission’s remote observation technology expressly provided for in the Minsk agreements.”

The Chief Monitor noted that it was nearly three years since the signatories’ endorsement of the Minsk Protocol and Memorandum. “These documents emphasize the pre-eminent importance of the ceasefire and set out specific additional measures that, if implemented, can make the ceasefire sustainable. These include holding of positions and prohibition of attacking moves.”