Demining, social issues, business climate and infrastructure discussed at OSCE-supported dialogue forum in Mariupol, eastern Ukraine

MARIUPOL, Ukraine, 23 March 2016 – More than 200 participants, including officials of central and local government, civil society activists and experts gathered today at the East Ukrainian Forum “Reconstruction through Dialogue: Mariupol”, hosted by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine to discuss ways of resolving the most important issues for people living in communities affected by the conflict.

The Forum’s participants are joining facilitated group dialogues to bridge gaps in the understanding of problems facing local communities and central authorities, as well as to exchange ideas on possible solutions. The five groups focus on: humanitarian demining issues; ways to improve infrastructure affected by the conflict and accessibility of administrative and other services by the public; the business climate; social issues, including the protection of rights of internally displaced people; and the impact of the conflict on youth and education system.  

“The consolidated efforts of the government, civil society and international community can do a lot to alleviate the suffering of locals from the conflict, but success depends on whether they are on the same page about the essence of the problems and share a common vision of how to solve them,” said Vaidotas Verba, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine. “We place a lot of hope that thanks to this dialogue and other efforts to follow, the participants will establish durable partnerships in building responses to issues of importance to local communities,” he added.

Representatives of Kyiv-based embassies of OSCE participating States and international organisations are also participating in the Forum to observe the discussions, informing plans for assistance to the region.

Following the discussions, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator will put together a report summarising agreements reached during the discussions and share it with participants and government institutions. The Project Co-ordinator will then identify the essential needs and ensure follow-up dialogue between Forum’s participants, where such support will be recognised as essential.  

This event is part of a project on supporting dialogue for reforms, justice and development, implemented with financial support from the governments of Liechtenstein, Lithuania and Finland.