Ambassador Grau praises work of Ukrainian side in all TCG groups
The meeting was also attended by representatives of certain districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine as part of the Ukrainian delegation.
During the discussion, the Ukrainian party in the TCG stressed the importance of establishing a sustainable and comprehensive ceasefire.
A number of proposals submitted by the Ukrainian party were discussed within the working group on security issues. They concerned, among other things, demining and security for the civilian population, new disengagement areas and ensuring a sustainable ceasefire. The group's moderator, Ambassador Yaşar Halit Çevik, noted the constructive nature of the dialogue.
The Ukrainian delegation emphasized the need to ensure full and unimpeded access of the OSCE SMM to the entire temporarily uncontrolled territory.
The Ukrainian party stressed its willingness to provide the necessary security guarantees and full assistance to the OSCE SMM to investigate the incident with damage to the surveillance camera of the Special Monitoring Mission near Shyrokyne (Donetsk region), which occurred on June 22, 2020 as a result of shelling from the territory uncontrolled by the Government of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian party offered to hold an additional meeting of the security group to achieve progress in the issue of disengagement of forces and assets in the projected areas until the next meeting of the TCG.
Due to the efforts of the Ukrainian delegation within the working group on social and economic issues, the work of the Ukrainian mobile network operator in ORDLO of Ukraine was resumed after a two-week break.
The Ukrainian party initiated the discussion of approaches to solving environmental problems in ORDLO of Ukraine. In particular, it raised the issue of safe storage of radioactive materials in ORDLO of Ukraine and the possibility of forming a group of experts under the auspices of the IAEA to monitor the situation. The delegation also raised the issue of ensuring water supply in the conflict zone.
In the framework of the working group on political issues, the Ukrainian delegation provided the parties with a calendar plan for the preparation and holding of local elections within the period established by law.
It was reiterated that the holding of elections in ORDLO of Ukraine is possible only after a comprehensive de-escalation, withdrawal of foreign military units and equipment, disarmament of illegal armed groups and restoration of control over the state border in the conflict zone by the Ukrainian government.
Advisers of the Ukrainian delegation to the TCG - representatives of certain districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine in the political group took an active part in these consultations.
The humanitarian group discussed the coordination of lists for the mutual release of captives. The Ukrainian party continues to insist on an "all-for-all" release.
The Ukrainian delegation reiterated willingness to open two new checkpoints in Luhansk region for humanitarian purposes, and provide security guarantees for the period of construction of checkpoints’ infrastructure by the temporarily occupied territories subject to actual work.
The next round of consultations within the TCG is scheduled for July 8.
Summing up the discussion, Heidi Grau, the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group, commended the intensification of work of the Ukrainian party, noting that it contributed to the work of all TCG groups.
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