Heidi Grau steps down as special representative for Ukraine – OSCE

According to an Ukrinform correspondent, this was officially announced at a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on Thursday, July 8.

In particular, the Swedish chairmanship of the OSCE announced Grau's resignation. The reason was not reported. It was noted that the selection of her successor was underway.

During the Permanent Council meeting, a number of delegations from participating countries thanked the Swiss diplomat for her work.

The EU Delegation to the OSCE thanked Heidi Grau for her outstanding work in advancing discussions within the Trilateral Contact Group. "Dear Ambassador, you have become a real asset to the OSCE and we wish you all the best in your future endeavors," the Delegation said.

The U.S. Mission also noted Grau's unwavering pursuit of peace and of tangible outcomes within Trilateral Contact Group: pressing for new disengagement areas, an updated demining plan, and new entry-exit crossing points. "We recognize that the lack of progress on these and other issues is a clear result of Russia’s intransigence," the Mission added.

Ambassador Yevhenii Tsymbaliuk, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the International Organizations in Vienna, also expressed his words of gratitude. "As this is the last appearance of Special Representative Grau to the Permanent Council, I would end my statement by expressing a sincere gratitude to her for the significant contribution she made to the work of the TCG. We will miss your energy at the TCG, dear Heidi, and your pertinent remarks debunking Russia’s fakes at the PC meetings," he said.

As Ukrinform reported, Ambassador Heidi Grau was appointed Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) in December 2019. She replaced the Austrian diplomat, Martin Sajdik, who took office in June 2015.

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