Press Statement of Special Representative Kinnunen after the regular Meeting of Trilateral Contact Group on 26 August 2021

KYIV, 26 August 2021 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Mikko Kinnunen, made the following statement to the press after the regular meetings of the TCG ‎and its Working Groups held through video conferencing:

“I was pleased to attend my first TCG meeting as Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the TCG. I am ready to make every effort for seeking and finding solutions for a peaceful settlement of the conflict and look forward to constructive cooperation and active engagement of the participants.

I would also like to express my gratitude to my predecessor, Ambassador Heidi Grau. I sincerely thank her for the valuable work she did and for her manifold achievements, including the July 2020 agreement on strengthening of the ceasefire.

The security situation along the contact line remains stable but fragile with an average of 180 cease-fire violations per day reported by SMM during August 2021. The discussions in the Security Working Group today touched upon means to reduce the violence, however work on this important issue should continue.

An improved security situation is key to achieving results in other areas, like humanitarian and economic.

Following months of impasse due to divergence on procedural issues, I welcome the fact that the participants of the Political Working Group were able to engage in formal consultations on development of an action plan in full compliance with the Minsk agreements, as previously tasked by the TCG.

Water issues were among the topics discussed in the Economic Working Group where particular attention was paid to water supplies to CALO. Moreover, participants engaged in an exchange on pension payments and ecological questions, including protection against environmental hazards emanating from flooded mines.

I regret that discussions in the Humanitarian Working Group stalled due to the controversy over a new expert appointment. As a consequence, important issues including the mutual exchange of detainees and freedom of movement across the contact line could not be addressed. I call upon all participants be responsible and seek a swift way out of this impasse.

Today we had an exchange of views on possible internal rules of procedure of the TCG. The argument was made that rules of procedure, if agreed, could facilitate our work.

Due to COVID-19 the TCG has not had a face-to-face meeting since March 2020. There seems to be consensus on the need to return to physical meetings, however further consideration on the venue is needed.”