TCG fails to agree on new date for disengagement of forces in Zolote, Petrivske - OSCE

"The sides failed to renew the disengagement of forces and hardware in Zolote and Petrivske on October 7, 2019 as per the agreement reached at the previous meeting. However, the sides confirmed their commitment to implement this decision. I hope that in the very near future we shall witness its implementation," the diplomat said in a press statement following a TCG meeting in Minsk on October 15.

According to him, a new schedule for the disengagement of forces in Petrivske and Zolote was discussed on October 15, "but I cannot say that we have reached mutual understanding on a specific date."

The OSCE envoy also stated that he could not give a positive assessment of adherence to the ceasefire, as the number of violations has recently risen sharply. In this regard, he called on the sides, while realizing their political and humanitarian responsibilities to the civilian population, "to do everything necessary to ensure a sustainable ceasefire."

Sajdik said that the Economic Working Group, among other topics, discussed issues of mobile communications and water supply across the contact line in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions (CADR and CALR), as well as pension payments.

At the same time, the Humanitarian Working Group continued discussions on an exchange of detainees. Issues of the search for missing persons were also addressed, the ambassador added.

"In the focus of the Political Working Group today was the legal realization of a special status for CADR and CALR, in particular taking into account the decentralization process in Ukraine. The issues of amnesty and modalities of local elections in CADR and CALR were also discussed," the statement reads.

The next meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group will take place on October 29.

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