“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

Read more on “Novosti Donbasa”

“The proposal was made by Mr. Kuchma and was supported by the participants from ORLO and ORDO. This will be under consideration in the economic subgroup next time,” Sajdik told reporters on Wednesday in Minsk

Read more on BBC Russia

“Today, the participants of the TCG and its working groups continued to discuss the ideas elaborated at our previous meeting. As you understand, this work requires thorough preparation.

In particular, thisregards the disengagement of forces and hardware in the area of ​​Stanytsia Luhanska. The intention to launch it voiced by the sides in Minsk two weeks ago, has not yet been implemented. The reason for this was ceasefire violations. It is worth noting, however, that such violations occurred after the sides had expressed this intention. Before that, there had been no cease-fire violations for a fairly long while.

I have a feeling that the sides really want to disengage their forces and hardware from Stanytsia Luhanska. I sincerely hope that it will take place, but today I cannot predict the exact date.

A similar situation concerns the cessation of fire. Despite the sides’ clear interest in a so-called “harvest ceasefire”, today, unfortunately, they could not yet reach a common understanding on the text of the joint statement.

This ceasefire, along with broad mine action, is crucial for civilians residing in the conflict area.

A ceasefire is also indispensable for children who have recently finished the school year. Children have the right to a vacation without fear.

These issues were today in the focus of Security working group, and work on them will be actively taken forward.

Among other issues on the agenda, the Economic working group paid particular attention to water supply issues in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions on both sides of the contact line.

The Humanitarian working group continued discussions related to the exchange of detainees, search for missing persons, as well as the possibilities of improving the conditions of crossing the contact line via the checkpoint in Stanytsia Luhanska.

The Political working group exchanged views on its well-known agenda, namely the implementation of the ‘Steinmeier formula’, amnesty and the modalities of local elections in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.”

Source: OSCE

“I truly regret that on 7th August 2019 the Security working group of the Trilateral Contact Group was not able to hold its extraordinary meeting in form of a video-conference, as had been proposed by the Ukrainian side […] I urge all sides to fully, entirely and unconditionally adhere to their recommitment to ceasefire that was agreed in the TCG and successfully came into force on July 21”.

According to “Novosti Donbassa”, the extraordinary meeting did not take place because of the refusal of DPR representatives, who considered such an initiative premature.

Sources: OSCE, “Novosti Donbassa”

“As it is known, on 2 March 2018, the Trilateral Contact Group, with the participation of the representatives of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions (CADR and CALR), re-affirmed full commitment to a comprehensive, sustainable and unlimited cease-fire, starting from 5 March 2018.

Following this statement and as facilitated by the sides’ efforts, recently it has become possible to significantly reduce the average number of ceasefire violations to one of the lowest levels over the past two years.

This year, it has also been possible to achieve a significant reduction in the number of civilian casualties. Compared to the corresponding period in the previous year, the respective number has declined three times, according to the preliminary data provided by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission. All this clearly demonstrates that with the political will numerous achievements can be accomplished.

Further adherence to the cessation of fire and the general situation in the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine were today the main discussion topics of the Working Group on Security.

In particular, the participants stressed that the successful implementation of ceasefire requires strict adherence to the previously agreed principles, such as:

• issuance of the respective ceasefire orders as well as the effective use of disciplinary measures for ceasefire violations;
• avoiding forward movements and reconnaissance missions;
• withdrawal of heavy weapons, especially from populated areas;
• securing civil infrastructure, in particular by prevention of targeting of civilian infrastructure, including schools, kindergartens, hospitals, and public premises.

One of the major issues under discussion at the Economic Working Group meeting was the operation of the mobile network Vodafone-Ukraine. With the participation of the representative of Vodafone-Ukraine, the Working Group continued to discuss practical steps necessary to re-establish and ensure mobile communication in CADR and CALR.

The participants of the Working Group discussed the issues of water deliveries in the supply systems “Karbonyt” and “Voda Donbassa”, repayment of arrears to former employees of the Ukrainian Railways in CADR and CALR as well as the return of freight cars currently located in the non-government controlled areas of Ukraine.

The Working Group on Humanitarian Issues continued the discussion of issues related to the exchange of detainees.

With the participation of the ICRC representative in Ukraine, the Group also discussed issues related to the operation of entry-exit checkpoints at the contact line, in particular in Stanytsia Luhanska.

The participants of the Political Working Group exchanged views on the future implementation of the so-called ‘Steinmeier formula’, amnesty, local elections and the special status of CADR and CALR as stipulated by the Minsk Agreements. According to the Coordinator of the Working Group, Ambassador Pierre Morel, close co-operation between the TCG and its Working Groups with the ‘Normandy Four’ plays, in particular, a very important role”.

For PDF attachments or links to sources of further information, please visit: http://www.osce.org/chairmanship/375352

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At today’s meeting of the TCG and its Working Groups, priority was given to the issues of security, compliance with the ceasefire and the exchange of detainees. With regard to this, the TCG adopted the following statement:

“The Trilateral Contact Group with the participation of representatives from certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, in connection with the forthcoming Christmas and New Year festivities, stress the necessity to ensure peace and tranquility and, guided by earlier agreements and obligations of the sides:

•         Reaffirm their commitment to a comprehensive, sustainable and unlimited ceasefire, starting at 00:00 on 23 December 2017 (Kyiv time), underlining at the same time the necessity of the issuance of, and compliance with, the respective orders, including the necessity of disciplinary measures for ceasefire violations;

•         Confirm the ambition to accomplish, as earlier agreed, the exchange of detainees before the New Year and Christmas holidays;

•         Express their common commitment to the full implementation of the Minsk Agreements”.

And now about the discussions in the Working Groups.

The participants of the Economic Working Group continued discussions on water supply issues and the possibilities of arrears’ payment to the former employees of the Ukrainian Railways company in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions (CADR and CALR).

The Political Working Group continued to discuss the issues related to the definition of the modalities of the “Steinmeier formula” as well as its future implementation.

Today was the last meeting of the TCG and its Working Groups this year. Taking this opportunity, on behalf of the TCG members and on my own behalf, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Republic of Belarus and in particular to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their all-round support for our work.

I want to express my gratitude to my colleagues in the TCG, President Leonid Kuchma and Boris Gryzlov, as well as to the representatives of CADR and CALR, Denis Pushilin and Vladislav Deinego.

I also thank the Coordinators of the Working Groups Ambassador Ertuğrul Apakan, Ambassador Pierre Morel, Ambassador Toni Frisch and Per Fischer. I am grateful to all the participants of the TCG and its Working Groups.

My gratitude also goes to the International Committee of the Red Cross, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, and, of course, to the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission for their activities for the benefit of the civilian population in the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine.

I want to thank my colleagues in Kyiv, whose daily work is indispensable. I also express my appreciation to the team of Technical Unit Minsk: Anastasiya Labada, Sergei Kluchenovich, Sergei Paulavitski, Volha Hapeyeva and Igor Gorlatov.

Of course, I would like to thank all of you, media representatives, for your interest in our work. Your attention and high requirements to us are among the conditions of our common success.”

Finally, I express my gratitude to the OSCE Austrian Chairmanship for its contribution to our work in 2017.”

“The day before yesterday marked the third anniversary of the endorsement of the Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements.

From my point of view, the three years of its implementation have demonstrated that, despite certain difficulties, the Minsk process is operational and brings results. This was proven even today, in particular when the issues of the Security Working Group were discussed.

The continued compliance with the cessation of fire as well as the security of the civilian population and critical infrastructure were the main purpose of our deliberations today. As proposed by the Working Group on Security, the TCG reiterated its commitment to earlier decisions on a comprehensive, sustainable and unlimited ceasefire, as well as decisions on the withdrawal of forces and hardware, removal of heavy weapons, mine action and the prohibition of live-fire exercises near the line of contact. Let me remind you that it was during the last two and a half years that we were able to work out the solutions on these matters here in Minsk.

Before moving on to the results of the Economic Working Group, I would like to recall one more anniversary that is approaching in early March. This is the introduction of so-called “external management” of the enterprises under Ukrainian jurisdiction in certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions (CADR and CALR) and the trade ban across the contact line. As it turned out, these decisions caused considerable economic damage to all of Ukraine, and in particular to the population of the Donbas. I also raised this issue last week in Vienna when speaking to the OSCE Permanent Council.

I call on the sides to the conflict to demonstrate realism and the corresponding political will and to abolish these decisions, which have an adverse impact on the standard of living of the population.

And now about the Economic Working Group. It continued the discussion of the possibilities to resume the operation of Vodafone-Ukraine in CADR.

In addition, the Group considered water supply issues in the systems “Karbonyt” and “Voda Donbassa”, repayment of arrears to former employees of the Ukrainian Railways in CADR and CALR, as well as environmental issues related to the flooding of coalmines in the conflict zone.

The Working Group on Humanitarian Issues discussed further steps necessary to prepare the next exchange of detainees.

Today the participants of the Political Working Group continued their exchange of views on the new law ‘On the peculiarities of the state policy on securing the state sovereignty of Ukraine over the temporarily occupied territories in Donetsk and Luhansk regions’.”

“The Trilateral Contact Group, with the participation of the representatives of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, acknowledging the positive impact of the recommitment to ceasefire of 2 March 2018, stressing the importance of ensuring peace and calm for the population, keeping in mind the forthcoming Easter celebrations, and guided by earlier agreements and obligations of the sides:

– Re-affirm their full commitment to a comprehensive, sustainable and unlimited ceasefire, starting from 30 March 2018 at 00 hrs. 01 min. (Kyiv time);

– Underline herewith the importance of the issuance of, and compliance with, the respective ceasefire orders; the effective use of disciplinary measures for ceasefire violations; avoiding forward movements and reconnaissance missions; no firing, including to return fire; strictly forbidding, in particular, firing to and from populated areas, the presence and use of heavy weapons in and close to populated areas and the targeting of civilian infrastructure, including schools, kindergartens, hospitals, and public premises;

– Re-assert their joint and firm commitment to the full implementation of the Minsk agreements.”

“At the previous TCG meeting, the situation around Donetsk Filtering Station (DFS) was subject to particular attention. Unfortunately, despite the sides’ security guarantees and the reinforced patrolling by OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, further ceasefire violations near the DFS occurred.

Let me remind you that the DFS, as a part of the enterprise “Voda Donbassa”, provides water for several hundred thousand people on both sides of the contact line.

These issues, among others, were duly considered in the Working Group on Security. At the TCG meeting, it was decided to hold a videoconference of the Working Group on Security concerning the situation in the DFS area next week. In this regard, I call on the sides to provide all the required security guarantees to allow for the uninterrupted operation of the station and to ensure security for DFS employees and SMM monitors.

Besides, the increase in civilian casualties in April raises a major concern. In this respect, I once again call on the sides to do their utmost to avoid civilian casualties. I am determined to repeat these calls to ensure that the interests of the conflict zone residents are properly voiced.

The Working Group on Economic Issues continued its discussion of further steps to restore and improve Vodafone-Ukraine mobile communication in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions (CADR and CALR). Moreover, the Group considered the topic of water deliveries in Karbonyt system as well as the crucial environmental issues.

The Working Group on Humanitarian Issues continued its discussion on the topics of detainees exchange and the conditions of their detention, missing persons, as well as improving conditions for the contact line crossing via the entry-exit checkpoints.

The Working Group on Political Issues further considered the implementation of the so-called ‘Steinmeier formula’, amnesty and modalities of local elections in CADR and CARL.”