02:13Belarus: OSCE's Sajdik gives annual briefing on Ukraine Contact Group meetings
Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine Martin Sajdik gave a brief summary of the outcome of the Minsk meetings on the Ukrainian crisis over 2015, speaking at a press conference in the Belarusian capital, Tuesday.
According to Sajdik, the security group is coordinating efforts in 12 areas which have been set aside for demining. The demining will be conducted under the supervision of the joint coordination centre of the OSCE, he said. Moreover, "the sides have agreed to carry out work regarding several technical matters on the demining process till next meeting of the group."
The OSCE representative also noticed that members of the economic group have reached an agreement regarding the immediate necessity of improving the water supplies of the population in conflict zone, especially in winter conditions. The group "has shown the readiness to coordinate the concrete measures," Sajdik added.
In November, militias of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk Peoples' Republic (DPR/LPR) began to withdraw weapons from the lines of engagement in accordance with new ceasefire regulations. The withdrawal comes as Ukrainian government forces and Donbass militia troops both agreed to move heavy and light weaponry to a further 15km (9.3mi) back from the front-line. The agreement was reached after the leaders of Ukraine, France, Russia, and Germany met in Paris to try to pave the way to a permanent peace deal in eastern Ukraine.
02:13Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine Martin Sajdik gave a brief summary of the outcome of the Minsk meetings on the Ukrainian crisis over 2015, speaking at a press conference in the Belarusian capital, Tuesday.
According to Sajdik, the security group is coordinating efforts in 12 areas which have been set aside for demining. The demining will be conducted under the supervision of the joint coordination centre of the OSCE, he said. Moreover, "the sides have agreed to carry out work regarding several technical matters on the demining process till next meeting of the group."
The OSCE representative also noticed that members of the economic group have reached an agreement regarding the immediate necessity of improving the water supplies of the population in conflict zone, especially in winter conditions. The group "has shown the readiness to coordinate the concrete measures," Sajdik added.
In November, militias of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk Peoples' Republic (DPR/LPR) began to withdraw weapons from the lines of engagement in accordance with new ceasefire regulations. The withdrawal comes as Ukrainian government forces and Donbass militia troops both agreed to move heavy and light weaponry to a further 15km (9.3mi) back from the front-line. The agreement was reached after the leaders of Ukraine, France, Russia, and Germany met in Paris to try to pave the way to a permanent peace deal in eastern Ukraine.