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

Lajčák, on his first official visit as OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, witnessed the daily hardships experienced by people caught in the crisis in and around Ukraine. These included the dangerous journeys people are forced to take because of attacks on critical infrastructure, such as crossing the seriously damaged bridge at the Stanytsia Luhanska entry-exit checkpoints. “In Europe – in the 21st century – people should not be struggling to have their basic needs met,” said Lajčák.

“The crisis in and around Ukraine is a top priority of Slovakia’s OSCE Chairmanship,” he stressed. “Being on the ground, I can see the critical work the OSCE is doing and how much more needs to be done. For the people affected, this conflict dictates their daily lives. Direct or nearby shelling is an everyday reality. We need to do better and come up with new and innovative ideas to improve their living conditions.”

To raise awareness of the most vulnerable people and the need to support the protection of critical infrastructure, Lajčák also visited the Luhansk Regional Children’s Hospital in Lysychansk, and donated 24 tons of humanitarian aid from Slovakia.

Supporting concrete projects like this will be high on the agenda of the Slovak Chairmanship, he said. Slovakia also aims to work closely with other international and regional organizations such as the United Nations and the European Union, as well as other partners like the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Seeing how the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (SMM) operates, Lajčák underlined the need for continuous support and further strengthening of its important work. “The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission is doing crucial work in reducing tensions on the ground,” he noted. “The monitors are the eyes and ears of the organization and they directly contribute to the prevention of further escalation.”

He added that the work of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine offered an important long-term dimension to the organization’s activities in the country, particularly in supporting constitutional, legal and criminal justice reforms, and in addressing the concerns of conflict-affected communities.

The Chairperson-in-Office also called for strong co-operation among the Trilateral Contact Group; the OSCE Chairperson’s Special Representative Martin Sajdik; and the Normandy format, in finding a peaceful political solution to the crisis.

A critical precondition for any positive development and ultimately lasting peace is a ceasefire, he said. “We are unlikely to see political momentum when shells are still falling from the sky,, Lajčák stressed.

While in Ukraine, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office met with Ukrainian Prime Minister, Volodymyr Groysman; Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin; Defence Minister, Stepan Poltorak; and the members of the Ukrainian delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group led by First Deputy Chair of the Verkhovna Rada, Iryna Gerashchenko. With his Ukrainian partners, he discussed the crisis in and around Ukraine, as well as how to best support the work of the SMM and mitigate the risks faced by people living close to the contact line.

The upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections were also a focus of the discussions.  “I am confident that all actors in Ukraine will work hard to ensure that the upcoming elections will be open, free and fair. And it is my hope that there will be no interference from external actors,” Lajčák said. “The elections can set the stage for a more peaceful and prosperous future for all Ukrainians. A future we all want.”

Source: OSCE

“In my previous speeches, I have repeatedly stressed that safeguarding decent living conditions for civilians in the conflict zone is the key priority of our activities.

As you know, last year the number of civilian casualties has significantly decreased, reaching the lowest level since the beginning of the conflict. This trend continues. According to preliminary data of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, no civilian deaths have been registered since the beginning of this year until the day before yesterday.

This is a clear achievement of our work here, in Minsk.

Drawing on my more than three years of experience, I would like once again to emphasise my full commitment to the Minsk Agreements and personal conviction that they are indispensable and irreplaceable for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in the east of Ukraine.

This is our common task – mine, that of the Coordinators of the Working Groups and of all the participants of the Minsk process – to do our utmost for their swift and full implementation.

At the end of last week, on 25 January 2019, a teleconference of Diplomatic Advisers of the Normandy Four took place. It was agreed to give priority to certain humanitarian issues, such as improved access to and crossing of the line of contact, the exchange of detainees, the preservation of vital civilian infrastructure and many others. Accordingly, these topics have become the subject to discussion today for the TCG and its Working Groups.

The Economic Working Group discussed topical issues of water deliveries, including preparations for the audit of the “Voda Donbasa” company. The intended duration of the audit is one year. Together with a few others, issues concerning the payment of pensions to residents of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions (CADR and CALR) were also considered.

This was the first meeting of the Economic Working Group that was led by its new Co-ordinator, the former German Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Ulrich Brandenburg.

On behalf of the TCG and myself, I once again congratulate Mr Brandenburg on his appointment and wish him success on this post.

In the Working Group on Security, the main topic of discussion was the general security situation in the conflict zone and issues of compliance with the ceasefire.

The Humanitarian Working Group paid attention, inter alia, to the discussion of issues related to the exchange of detainees.

The Political Working Group took forward its exchanges on its well-known agenda, namely the implementation of the ‘Steinmeier formula’, amnesty and the modalities of local elections in CADR and CALR as stipulated by the Minsk agreements.”

Source: OSCE

Minister Lajčák once again reiterated his deep regret about the decision of the Ukrainian authorities, which de-facto denies accreditation to ODIHR’s international observers with passports from the Russian Federation.

“Our Heads of State have all committed to invite observers from other participating States that wish to observe our elections, including through ODIHR,” the Chairperson-in-Office said. “I remain convinced that not accepting accreditation for all ODIHR’s observers is not in line with the OSCE commitments and therefore not in the best interest of the OSCE, Ukraine or its people”.

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office intends to discuss the situation in and around Ukraine, along with other issues, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov later this week in Moscow.

Source: OSCE

“We sincerely welcome the recommitment to the ceasefire made by the Trilateral Contact Group. The recommitment came into effect at 00:01 (Kyiv time) on 8 March 2019, coinciding with International Women’s Day. We encourage full adherence to the ceasefire as envisaged in the recommitment well beyond this holiday, and hope it benefits not only all women but the entire population of Ukraine.

We appreciate that the sides have once again recommitted to the Minsk agreements and urge them to take all the necessary measures to ensure that a sustainable and long-lasting ceasefire follows.”

Source: OSCE

“I want to express my sincere gratitude to the women and men of the Mission, who – for five years now – have been working every day, under challenging circumstances, to carry out their crucial tasks as the principal and largest international monitoring presence on the ground. They deserve our gratitude and our support,” Mr. Lajčák said. “The monitors are the eyes and ears of the organization – and indeed, of the international community – and they directly contribute to the prevention of further escalation,” he added.

Source: OSCE