Sajdik: Recent developments in Donbas inspire optimism

He said this in a statement following the TCG’s meeting in Minsk on November 27, 2019.

“The Trilateral Contact Group and its Working Groups convened for the second last time before the end of this year. I would like to remark that recent developments inspire a certain optimism,” reads the statement.

As is known, on November 20, 2019, the pedestrian bridge in Stanytsia Luhanska was opened after the completion of the construction and repair works, in the presence of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky.

Earlier this week, in fulfillment of the commitments taken, the sides notified the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission of the completion of the withdrawal of forces and hardware in the area of Zolote.

In the third disengagement area of Petrivske, the dismantling of fortifications is underway.

“I regret to say that the number of ceasefire violations remains fluctuating. According to the data provided by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission and discussed today in the Security Working Group, their number has increased again in the recent days, after a relative decline last week. With this in mind, I call on the sides to do everything necessary to ensure a sustainable ceasefire,” Sajdik stressed.

The ambassador expressed hope that the meeting of the leaders of the Normandy Four in Paris, scheduled for December 9, 2019, will not be upset by fighting activities in the distant Donbas. “In the run-up to the Summit, I would like to note that, on the part of the TCG and its Working Groups, we have completed all the tasks assigned to us by the Political Advisers of the Normandy Four, and today I look forward to this upcoming meeting with great hope,” he said.

During the meeting, the Economic Working Group considered current issues of water delivery across the line of contact in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as well as the payment of pensions.

The Humanitarian Working Group focused its discussions on the questions related to an exchange of detainees.

The Political Working Group continued discussing issues related to special status, amnesty and the modalities of local elections.

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