OSCE urges parties to Donbas conflict to use lull to remove heavy weaponry

Principal Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, Alexander Hug, has said the level of violence in Donbas has reduced and called on the parties to remove heavy weapons.

Hug said this at a press briefing on Thursday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"If you look through our daily spot reports, you probably notice that the level of violence in Donbas dropped over the past week. Of course, the situation is far from being perfect, but it demonstrates that the parties can control their own people on the ground at least to some extent," Hug said.

He called on the parties to the conflict to use a relative lull to remove the heavy weaponry.

"I urge the parties to take advantage of this period and to finally withdraw heavy weapons from the safety zone in accordance with the assumed obligations,” the Principal Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE SMM to Ukraine said.

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