Opinions & Interviews
Contact group on Ukraine in Minsk accomplishes goals set by Normandy Four advisors
Martin Sajdik. An archive photo
MINSK, 27 November (BelTA) – The trilateral contact group on resolving the situation in Ukraine’s east has fulfilled all the tasks set by Normandy Four political advisors, BelTA learned from the OSCE’s special representative in the trilateral contact group on resolving the situation in Ukraine’s east Martin Sajdik on 27 November.
The diplomat reminded that early this week the sides notified the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine they had completed the separation of forces and assets near Zolotoye. Work continues to dismantle and remove fortifications near Petrovskoye. “Unfortunately, the number of ceasefire violations continues to vary,” Martin Sajdik stated. “According to the Special Monitoring Mission data, which the subgroup on security discussed, the number of ceasefire violations increased in the last few days after a comparative decline last week. This is why I implore the sides to do their best to keep things peaceful and quiet. I hope the work of the leaders of the Normandy Four in Paris on 9 December will not be disturbed by combat operations in the Donbass area.”
“In the run-up to the summit I would like to underline that the trilateral contact group and its subgroups have fulfilled all the tasks set by political advisors of the Normandy format. Today I look forward to the meeting with strong hope,” the diplomat stressed.
The meeting of the trilateral contact group in Minsk on 27 November was second to the last one this year. Martin Sajdik reminded that developments in the conflict zone in Ukraine’s east have inspired certain optimism recently. For instance, a pedestrian bridge was reopened after repairs in Stanitsa Luganskaya on 20 November in the presence of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to Martin Sajdik, the bridge will be a great relief for the local population because about 11,000 people go through the checkpoint in Stanitsa Luganskaya every day according to the latest data. “I would like to express my special gratitude to Leonid Danilovich Kuchma for his great personal efforts to resolve the problem,” he said.
On 27 November the subgroup on economic affairs paid attention to matters of water supply and the payment of pensions. The subgroup on humanitarian affairs focused on the exchange of captives. The subgroup on political affairs continued discussing the implementation of the Steinmeier formula, the amnesty, and municipal elections. Asked about results of the discussion about the exchange of POWs, Martin Sajdik noted that serious work was in progress. The diplomat is convinced the sides want to exchange their captives. “We hope it will happen in the foreseeable future,” he concluded.
The trilateral contact group on resolving the situation in Ukraine’s east will reconvene in Minsk on 18 December.
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