OSCE: Number of violations in eastern Ukraine over past two weeks reached its highest level this year

Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Heidi Grau, said this in a statement after the regular meetings of the TCG ‎and its Working Groups held through video conferencing on April 14.

She noted that the meetings took place against the background of an increased number of ceasefire violations.

“According to the SMM, the number of violations recorded over the past two weeks has reached its highest level this year and was three times higher than over the same period before. This is also having a negative impact on our work,” Grau said.

According to the ambassador, the last two weeks have also seen a significant increase in restrictions and impediments to the freedom of movement of the OSCE SMM and the fulfillment of its mandate. Nine out of ten of the SMM's long-range UAV flights have been affected by jamming.

The discussion with regard to the Coordination Mechanism for Responding to Ceasefire Violations will continue at future meetings of the Security Working Group. However, it should be noted that effective implementation of this mechanism will only be possible if there is political will to significantly reduce the number of ceasefire violations on both sides of the line of contact.

Again, procedural issues dominated the discussions of the participants in the meeting of the Political Working Group, which hindered progress towards the development of an action plan in full compliance with the Minsk agreements under the tasking given by the TCG.

The Humanitarian Working Group focused on removing obstacles to the simultaneous opening of new crossing points near Zolote and Shchastia of the Luhansk region.

The Working Group also discussed issues related to the mutual release and exchange of conflict-related detainees.

The meeting of the Economic Working Group focused on provision of pension payments to persons with limited mobility residing in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions (CADLR) of Ukraine. Also, important topics of water supply across the contact line in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, environmental issues and provision of mobile communications in CADLR were duly considered.

The next meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group for the Peaceful Settlement of the Conflict in Donbas is scheduled for April 28.

ish