On the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the signing of the “Minsk Protocol,” the participants of the Trilateral Contact Group reaffirmed their full commitment to the Minsk agreements, said Ambassador Martin Sajdik in a press release after the regular meeting of the TCG in Minsk on September 4. He also welcomed the meeting of the diplomatic advisers of the Norman format on September 2 in Berlin.

In his report Sajdik focused on the success of the ceasefire, the restoration of the bridge in Stanytsia Luhanska, as well as the prospects of resuming the disengagement of forces and resources in Zolotoy and Petrovski:

“The ceasefire that had been agreed by the TCG and entered into force on 21 July 2019 continues to yield results despite some deterioration of the situation in the last days.

According to the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, no civilian casualties have been recorded over the last two weeks. Besides, this year the number of civilian casualties remains on the lowest level since the beginning of the conflict.

Once again, I urge all the sides to fully comply with their commitments, especially with a view to the beginning of the school year.

I also want to note the positive dynamics in the implementation of the TCG decision concerning the repair works of the bridge at Stanytsia Luhanska.

In particular, mine clearance of the pathway to the bridge has been completed. Now the fortifications are being dismantled. This enables to launch the preparation and the subsequent repair works.

Today, all of these issues have been in the focus of the TCG and the Security Working Group. In addition, the prospects of renewal of the disengagement of forces and hardware in Zolote and Petrivske were discussed.

The Economic Working Group, among other topics, paid particular attention to water supply and property issues in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

The Humanitarian Working Group focused on the questions related to the exchange of detainees.

The Political Working Group discussed topics related to the implementation of the ‘Steinmeier formula’, amnesty, local elections and decentralization”.

Source: OSCE