Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 12 February (BelTA) - Belarus calls for consolidated efforts to support the Minsk peace process, the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on the anniversary of the Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Obviously, there is still a long way towards a comprehensive settlement of the Ukrainian crisis but what is at stake is not only the lives and wellbeing of people but also the future of the entire system of European security, reads the statement. "In this regard, we call upon all stakeholders, the international community, the OSCE participating states to consolidate the efforts to support the Minsk peace process and advance the implementation of the agreements reached," stressed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A big role in this process is played by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which is already making a significant contribution to facilitating the negotiations in the Trilateral Contact Group and monitoring the implementation of the Minsk agreements primarily through the activities of the special OSCE monitoring mission in Ukraine. "For its part, Belarus is ready to continue to do everything possible to restore peace and calm in its sister nation Ukraine, strengthen stability and security in the OSCE area as a whole,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Exactly a year ago, the leaders of the Normandy Four consisting of Germany, Russia, France and Ukraine gathered for a meeting in the Belarusian capital. They managed to negotiate a ceasefire in the east of Ukraine and to agree on a roadmap for a peaceful resolution of the crisis. "This undoubtedly historical document, known as Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements, was signed by all parties to the Trilateral Contact Group and received the support of the UN Security Council. This gave a powerful impetus to the de-escalation of the conflict and the search for the peaceful resolution of the crisis in Ukraine,” the statement reads.